President Ramaphosa To Launch KZN Terminal, Tetra Pak Manufacturing Plant

President Cyril Ramaphosa is all set to officially unveil the Newlyn PX Terminal and the Tetra Pak Manufacturing plant in KwaZulu-Natal this Thursday, as part of fulfilling commitments made during the South African Investment Conference.

South African Investment Conference is an initiative led by Ramaphosa to attract R1.2 trillion in investments over the five years. These entities, which will be launched as a part of South Africa's investment drive, made pledges during the Investment Conference.

"The multi-modal rail terminal in Bayhead next to the port of Durban pledged R2 billion for the development of the largest multi-modal rail terminal in Africa and has completed the last phase of the development exceeding the initial pledge by R2.6 billion," the Presidency said on Monday, SA News reported.

Over the past 26 years, the entity has shown dedication and invested heavily in building innovative logistics infrastructure along the country's main trade routes and this terminal is considered as a significant development in the nation's logistics space.

"The terminal has also been recognized as [a] flagship development expanding the logistics capacity of the country as well as enhancing global competitiveness as part of the critical NATCOR trade corridor linking Johannesburg to the port of Durban," it added.

The Presidency noted that the "development will further facilitate an integrated ecosystem yielding benefits to freight owners, Transnet and logistics service providers," noting that this will also "accelerate government's objective of migrating of cargo from road to rail."

The Presidency emphasized that in 2022, the Tetra Pak Group injected over R500 million into its manufacturing plant located in KwaZulu-Natal. Tetra Pak, renowned as the world's leading food processing and packaging company, operates in over 155 countries.

"Post the investment, the manufacturing plant is now the only state-of-the-art facility in Africa producing carton asceptic packaging for the domestic market and Africa export; meeting standards of sustainability; supporting a circular economy and propelling industrial growth," it said.

These investments will serve as a crucial industrial foundation for South Africa's recent engagement with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), opening up significant export opportunities.

South Africa became the first country among the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) member nations to send its first shipment to other countries under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement earlier this year.