Company Announcement - On Wednesday the 23rd of September, 25 different nominees for this year’s KZN Exporter of the Year Awards were announced at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry [DCCI] head office in Durban. This is the 15th year that Transnet Port Terminals [TPT] and the DCCI have collaborated to recognise and honour excellence in the export industry. With a network of 16 cargo terminals around the country that handle exports to numerous countries around the world, TPT is at the heart of South Africa’s operations for exporting. TPT’s recent national and international awards for best practice make it the ideal partner and sponsor for these annual awards. Dumile Cele, CEO of the DCCI, recognises the vital role that TPT’s involvement and these awards play when it comes to promoting the South African export industry.

“Through these awards we celebrate and encourage exports out of KZN. The KZN economy needs to improve as we are currently faced with higher imports than exports, making KZN a market for other countries to benefit, while we remain a follower on the world economic stage. It is vital that this changes,” said Cele.

TPT’s CE, Karl Socikwa, agrees with Cele’s sentiments that these awards have a two-fold purpose and are meant to, not only encourage excellence in the export industry, but also to help grow this vital industry that will positively impact the economy. “In order for the local economy to grow it is important to grow our export industry. The International Transport Forum Transport Outlook 2015 estimates that trade between African countries will increase by 715% between now and 2050. International freight transport volumes are also expected to grow by some 200% over the same period. This is not altogether surprising as volumes of trade through port terminals have to grow in order to sustain economic growth, job creation and food security across Africa. These awards play a pivotal role in setting the standard for best practice in the export industry which will help businesses cope and flourish with the expected increase in demand for exports in future years,” said Socikwa.

Winners across the six different categories will be announced and honoured on the 29th of October 2015 during a formal ceremony taking place at Sibaya Casino. Exporter categories include: Emerging, Small, Medium, Large, Africa and Service Provider. Nominees include the likes of Illovo Sugar Limited, PFK Electronics Holdings (Pty) Ltd. and Keuhne & Nagel showing that the best of the KZN export industry are represented.

The nominees for KZN Exporter of the Year across the 6 categories are:
Emerging:
• Packo
• SBS Water Systems (Pty) Ltd.
• Rocket Works (Pty) Ltd.
Small:
• Mexan Products (Pty) Ltd.
• Kagiso Interactive

Medium:
• Friedheim Timbers
• FP Installations (Pty) Ltd., t/a FP Engineering
• Imperial Armour CC
• Anderson Engineering Food & Chemical Equipment
• ND Engineering (Pty) Ltd.

Large:
• Illovo Sugar Limited
• Sumitomo Rubber South Africa
• G. U. D. Holdings (Pty) Ltd.
• Canvas and Tent Manufacturing
• Futura Footwear Ltd.
• Ferrero South Africa Ltd. – NCS Resin Coatings
• Inhep Electronics Holdings (Pty) Ltd.
• PFK Electronics Holdings (Pty) Ltd.
• Africa Sunoil Refineries

Africa:
• Illovo Sugar Limited
• Canvas and Tent Manufacturing
• Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (Pty) Ltd.
• Mexan Products (Pty) Ltd.
• G. U. D. Holdings (Pty) Ltd.
• Ferrero South Africa Ltd. – NCS Resin Coatings
• Inhep Electronics Holdings (Pty) Ltd.
• ND Engineering (Pty) Ltd.
• Dick Whittington Shoes (Pty) Ltd.
• Anderson Engineering Food & Chemical Equipment

Service Provider:
• Keuhne & Nagel
• Mediterranean Shipping Company (Pty) Ltd.
• Triple S Shipping
• KZN Customs Clearing & Forwarding Agents
• DAL Agency (Pty) Ltd.

TPT is no stranger to investing in the local industry. The company’s Market Demand Strategy, which is aimed at promoting economic growth within the country by investing in the expansion and modernisation of South Africa’s infrastructure including rail, port and pipeline infrastructure often requires TPT to invest in individuals and businesses. A recent demonstration of this was TPT’s collaboration with the DCCI to offer entrepreneurial support to 80 specially selected SMMEs as part of the Enterprise Development Initiative. Practically this means that TPT will sponsor these 80 SMMEs membership to the DCCI for a three-year period. This initiative forms part of TPT’s bigger investment as part of Transnet’s strategy from 2015/2016 to 2021/2022 to spend R1,16 billion on the training and development of staff and our country’s future academics and leaders.