East London appears set to become the motor import and export harbour port of South Africa - if stakeholders are willing to enter into a public-private partnership to invest in the necessary infrastructure to make this a reality.

Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin did not specifically mention East London when he spelled out the possibility of providing specialist rail and shipping facilities for the motor industry.

But, given the fact that the harbour already has a dedicated vehicle terminal and the East London Industrial Development Zone Corporation has been involved in discussions with Spoornet, the National Ports Authority (NPA) and Gauteng-based motor companies, it appears logical.

The minister said under discussion in transport was "the overall logistical system", pointing out that currently there were all types of facilities at the different harbours.

"The ports must be complementary to one another". He said if the motor companies wanted, for example, to export vehicles to Europe, then there was a need to provide fast efficient and industry-specific both in terms of rail and port facilities.

The private sector, he said, could play a role in a public-private partnership in assisting with the provision of the necessary infrastructure.

Introducing the debate on his budget earlier, Erwin said that all states were "increasingly confronted by the need to create a new relationship between the public and private sectors of the economy".

He said that public-private partnerships were "more effective within relatively developed states and economies" than in weaker states and economies where they often became "public risk and private profit".