Cape Town - The Western Cape provincial government is set to spearhead a number of initiatives to boost the province’s R200 million horse export industry, it said in a statement on Thursday.
Economic Opportunities MEC in the Western Cape, Alan Winde, recently returned from the United Arab Emirates where he undertook to increase horse trade between the two countries, “taking into account the barriers linked to African horse sickness”.
“We are investigating the establishment of a lock-down zone in the province, possibly at the Kenilworth Race Course. This facility would serve as a quarantine, transit and export station, which will allow the Western Cape to export directly to the world,” Winde said.
“Currently, our horses are exported via Mauritius where they are quarantined, adding red tape and financial costs to the process.” Winde also committed to setting up a task team to grow the size of the province’s horse racing events.
“There is a demand for our horses which are known to be excellent performers in competitions,” he said.
“The horse export industry is worth over R200 million and there is potential to grow to R1 billion if we put the right measures in place.”
According to Winde, Dubai had already agreed to build a quarantine station at is Al Maktoum airport to receive South African horses.
A delegation from the UAE was expected to visit the Western Cape at the end of April.
ANA