South Africa's most ambitious infrastructural project to date will move a step closer to reality this morning

Public Works Minister Stella Sigcau says South Africa's construction and property industries are to receive massive boosts following the announcement that the country would be hosting the continents first Pan African Parliament (PAP).

Alcan, the world's second-largest aluminium producer, would complete a review of the proposed $2 billion (R12.4 billion) smelter in South Africa this year, it said yesterday.

Transport Minister Jeff Radebe has officially opened a new R30 million Port Elizabeth airport terminal - and announced that his department is facilitating the ferrying of visitors from England and Ireland directly to the city.

The development of the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) has taken another step forward with the opening of a contact centre which employs best-of-breed technology to improve interactions with all stakeholders of the zone’s developers, the Coega Development Corporation (CDC).

Construction industry will need to double its output in next 10 years

Last year was a good year for the South African cement industry, with sales up by nearly 7% compared to 2002.

Construction companies concerned about the absence of a mention of promised infrastructure in the budget

South Africa, hoping to copy the miracle that created Asia's tiger economies, is building a multibillion-rand duty-free industrial park, the first in a series aimed at boosting economic growth.

The trade and industry department has confirmed that that minister Alec Erwin met representatives from Alcan and Pechiney, who visited SA last week, to assess the merits of Pechiney's proposed $2,2bn aluminium smelter at Coega.