The Group Chief Executive Officer of South Africa’s logistics firm, Transnet, Portia Derby, says her outfit is looking forward to working more closely with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to harness the growth potential of ports in Ghana.
According to her, Transnet intends to partner with GPHA not only for investment opportunities in Ghana but for Ghana to also tap into the vast opportunities in South Africa.
The group Chief Executive Officer of Transnet made this known when she led a 3-member delegation from the South African company to GPHA. She said her outfit was prepared to partner Ghana in its automotive drive, rail engineering industry as well as fruit exports.
She added that South Africa was ready to partner Ghana to develop its cruise industry in order to rake in the necessary revenue for the state.
“We have already got two cruise terminals on our side, you do not have one, and we can both work jointly on that; at least to help design and location and other issues you are interested in. But it is really important to identify opportunities where there is a win-win for South Africa and Ghana,” Portia Derby expressed.
The Director General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Michael Luguje who received the delegation together with some members of his management team welcomed any partnership between Transnet and GPHA.
Mr. Luguje articulated that, “for us as GPHA, our focus would be on the port and logistics component of what Transnet does within the broader system of South Africa’s multimodal transport logistics service offering”.
“We want to look at the kind of structure they have. They are more export-oriented while we are import-oriented, but you know there is a deliberate government policy to grow exports, so working with South Africa’s Transnet we can learn what direct and indirect role the port is playing in promoting the export sector.”
He said Ghana’s ports are well positioned to take advantage of the cruise industry in South Africa.
