Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, today signed a Joint Declaration of Intent with Vice Minister, Gunther Adler, of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety of the Federal Republic of Germany, saying that it will enhance the collaboration and partnerships between Gauteng and Germany.

“The signing of the Joint Declaration will advance and expand the frontiers of Green Logistics and Mobility, particular as it relates to the freight sector in the Gauteng city-region,” said Vadi.

The German Federal government has chosen South Africa, and Gauteng in particular, as the first country and region on the African continent to develop and implement the GLI:X Project, which stress the importance of environmentally-friendly solutions and sustainable development, particularly in the field of freight logistics.

The project will engage scientific expertise for the joint development of a Green Logistics Indicator (GLI-X) system in Gauteng; exchange experiences and best practices in this field; host seminars and workshops of business, experts, regulators, civil society and other relevant stakeholders; and encourage co-operation among freight companies, the public sector and private organisations.

Vadi said that the five key goals that the GLI: X Project has identified for smart logistics are well integrated and aligned to provincial policy objectives.

“Specifically, the five goals - greener, faster, more cost-effective, safer and more equitable freight logistics - address the transformation, modernisation and re-industrialisation objectives of the Gauteng Provincial Government,” he added.

He said the aim is to bring the immediate goals of freight logistics, namely, cost-effectiveness, speed and competitiveness, in line with broader development goals such as environmental protection, socio-economic development and a safe and secure urban environment.

Issued by Gauteng Roads and Transport