Ask any South African what event they are looking forward to next year and the majority of them will excitedly reply that the FIFA Soccer World Cup is at the top of their list. An industry that is hoping to benefit from the World Cup is freight transport. Freight transportation companies are hoping to benefit from the trade opportunities afforded by this international event and transport FIFA related cargo in and around South Africa.
All locals and soccer fans will agree that the World Cup will highlight the beauty and diversity of the country and bring wanted business into South Africa. The freight transport industry is expected to benefit from the Soccer World Cup as June 2010 draws nearer. It is evident that some of the merchandise as well as construction materials are not all produced in South Africa, so freight transport services will have to import products. This means that local freight shipping agents will come into contact with international cargo transport opportunities.
The department of Transport in South Africa has developed a Freight Mandate that will help deal with any transport related freight concerns for next year. The department realises that the Soccer World Cup will affect the industry as a whole and has therefore implemented certain regulations so that all forms of transport will meet general standards of the World Cup and what it aims to achieve.
Cargo to be delivered by freight transportation into the country for 2010 includes all FIFA cargo, medical products, media equipment, promotional material, advertising equipment and all products related to the event. The Department of Transport has also regulated the freight ports in the country in order to make sure that there is enough storage for cargo and that all of the cargo can be easily transported to its desired locations. Durban, Cape Town, Richards Bay and Port Elizabeth are the official ports of entry for this world famous football tournament in 2010
As with any company that provides a service that is needed in excess during an international event, members of the freight transport industry are hoping that organisers will decide to take the local route and transport their cargo by sea and use Proudly South African cargo ships.
Lauren Potgieter wrote this article for Trade Ocean
