Building a More Connected Western Cape Logistics System
SPEAKERS:
- Ilse van Schalkwyk – Deputy Director-General of Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism
The Western Cape’s ambitious export growth plans will depend heavily on developing a more connected, efficient, and coordinated logistics system. This was a key message from our latest EWC event at The Rockefeller Hotel, where members gained valuable insights into the province’s export and maritime logistics strategies.
Ilse van Schalkwyk, Deputy Director-General in the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, shared an overview of the province’s recently launched export strategy and its developing maritime logistics strategy. With ambitions to grow the provincial economy by between 4% and 6% by 2035, triple exports and bring 1 000 new exporters into the economy, she emphasised that competitiveness will be key to achieving these goals.
A central theme of the evening was the need to look beyond individual ports and consider the Western Cape’s three commercial ports — Cape Town, Saldanha Bay and Mossel Bay — as part of one integrated system. Each port has a unique role to play, but greater coordination, infrastructure investment and long-term planning will be essential to unlocking their combined potential.
Digital integration also featured strongly, with the proposed development of an independent port community system identified as an important step towards connecting exporters, logistics operators, cold stores, customs and other port users. Better information sharing and the use of predictive analytics could help identify bottlenecks before they impact the supply chain.
Van Schalkwyk also highlighted the growing role of private-sector participation, including the proposed concession for Berths B-D at the Port of Cape Town, as well as ongoing efforts to improve port performance and reduce vessel turnaround times.
EWC Chairman Terry Gale reinforced the importance of efficient logistics to achieving the province’s export ambitions, noting that exporters are ready to grow, invest and enter new markets — but the logistics system must be able to support that growth.
The evening provided an encouraging look at the opportunities ahead, while reinforcing a familiar EWC message: meaningful progress will require government, Transnet, the private sector and industry to work together to identify bottlenecks, improve coordination and turn strategy into measurable action.
