WATCH: President Ramaphosa cuts ribbon at Mara phone launch

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa launched the Mara Phone Plant at Dube Trade Port in La Mercy in a ribbon cutting ceremony at about 12pm on Thursday, 17 October.

The plant is the first South African cell phone manufacturing plant.

This is the second pilot model to be launched, it follows the successful launch of the new District Development Model in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape on 17 September.

Speaking at the launch, Ramaphosa said Durban is an important economic hub and the plant’s location is ideal since studies have shown that sea port cities grow faster due to their strategic positioning.

“In the State of the Nation address, I emphasised that special economic  zones are important instruments for attracting foreign and domestic investment,” he said.

“If we look around the world, we will find a number of countries that experienced a surge in economic growth after they established economic zones,” he added.

Ramaphosa said the plant would contribute to curbing unemployment with 200 young people already employed at the plant. He added that 67 per cent of those employed are women and 97 percent were skilled but unemployed previously.

“Today we are giving a practical effect to our investment drive,” he said.

Mara Phones CEO, Ashish Thakkar said: “Today is a special day. Today proves that we Africans dare to dream. Today also proves that we Africans walk the talk.”

Thakkar said that access to affordable high quality smart phones would open a world of opportunity to South Africans.

“This is high tech by Africans for Africans right here in South Africa,” he added.

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Mara Phones aims to boost job creation in South Africa.

“If you are passionate about creating jobs in Asia, continue using the phones you are using, but if you are passionate about creating jobs in South Africa, support Mara Phones,” said Thakkar.

Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel said that the mobile phone is ushering in a revolution that is transforming the African continent.

“For a long time it has been said  that Africa produces what it does not consume and consumes what it does not produce. We are changing this,” he said.

Patel said KwaZulu-Natal has established itself as a capital of manufacture in South Africa with some 300 000 people employed in the industry.

“There are 450 million unique mobile users in Sub Saharan Africa. By 2025, which is on the horizon, there will be 6oo million mobile users, making this one of fastest growing markets in the world,” he said.

Tomorrow,  the  presidential launch of District Development Model will take place at  the Princess Magogo Stadium, KwaMashu in Durban at 10am.

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