Sandton: Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has called on the fuels industry to deepen collaboration with government as the State builds economic prosperity for South Africa. The Minister was speaking at the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa Annual Imbizo held at the Sandton Convention Centre this week.

According to South African Government News Agency, Creecy highlighted the necessity for strong partnerships between government, State-owned entities, regulators, investors, infrastructure users, and organized industry formations. She emphasized that the challenges in the logistics sector cannot be addressed by government alone and that opportunities can only be fully realized through collaboration and a shared vision for the country's future.

Creecy noted the significant role of the fuel industry in sustaining the South African economy, emphasizing its contributions to mobility, production, trade, logistics, employment, and investment. She underscored the importance of a resilient fuel supply chain and expressed government's commitment to creating an enabling environment through effective policy regulation, infrastructure development planning, and oversight.

Addressing the future growth of the liquid fuels industry, Creecy stressed the need for modern, efficient, safe, and well-regulated infrastructure alongside government frameworks that provide certainty to investors and transparency to infrastructure users. She mentioned ongoing initiatives, in collaboration with Transnet and the Transnet Ports Authority, aimed at enhancing infrastructure planning, operational efficiency, and long-term investment at the Island View precinct at the Port of Durban to meet current and future demands.

Creecy assured industry leaders of the government's commitment to fostering an efficient, competitive, and sustainable transport and logistics environment. She expressed confidence that collaborative efforts will ensure South Africa's strategic infrastructure continues to support energy security, attract investment, and drive economic prosperity for future generations.