“The project is aimed at boosting the competitiveness in the transport sector of akey industry player namely Transnet, by focussing on Transnet Port Terminals and more specifically at Durban Container Terminal during phase 1. It is anticipated that over the duration of the project and through a combination of interventions, determined by way of social dialogue and ranging from workplace improvement measures to functional and technical/vocational skills training, the aims of the project shall be achieved."

The overall project objective is to create decent employment opportunities for historically disadvantaged population groups in Free State Province. The overall project outcome is sustainable community-based small businesses that have created at least 5,000 decent jobs.

The immediate project objectives are:

• To promote a more dialogue-driven mediation of stakeholder interests inthe Port of Durban and the Port of Richards Bay,
• To create a more conducive policy, legal and regulatory framework (PLRF) for doing business in these two Ports, with emphasis on human resources development and management
• To strengthen the capacity of local Business Development Services (BDS) providers, among them prominently the School of Port Operations to in turn provide port stakeholder groups with a range of workforce centered training and advisory services.
• To enable port workers to fully unlock the benefits of the staff development effort.