On the upside are new developments
Planned developments for Richards Bay will boost regional economy, says Chamber Chair
DESPITE the harsh knock-on effect industrial action has had on the region’s economy, Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (ZCCI) Chairman of the Richards Bay Division, Rakesh Roopnarain, believes the town still has many prospects to be positive about.
Speaking at the ZCCI Bay annual general meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, Roopnarain highlighted exciting projects in the pipeline that could boost both the local tourism and private sectors.
‘There are a lot of good developments on the cards for this area.
‘Oil and gas exploration is currently taking place along our coastline and Richards Bay can position itself well within the oil sector with our port, industries and pipelines already available.
‘There are also promising prospects for our sugar farmers in transferring cane into ethanol,’ said Roopnarain.
In February, investors from Brazillian-based company, SilvaPen Group, earmarked a biofuel ethanol plant on the outskirts of Jozini for a R1.5-billion project to produce ethanol from the milling and fermentation of cane sugar harvested by small local growers.
On the tourism front, Roopnarain said the Water Park and Resort planned for Richards Bay by private developers would be another milestone for northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The proposed park will boast a big wheel – providing an aerial overview of Richards Bay and the port as well as other rides like the super flume, river raft ride, multi-lane mat racer, aqua course for team building, kids’ slides area and a waves pool.
Regarding the long list of events recently hosted by the ZCCI, Roopnarain said it has been a successful year with many more workshops and networking occasions still in store for local business representatives.
