Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to commission a comprehensive business plan (feasibility study and operational model) to establish a feasible operational, governance, and financial framework for the development of the World Trade Centre Durban. The study aims to identify regulatory and institutional requirements, analyze market demand, develop operational and governance models, identify funding mechanisms, and recommend an optimal implementation and operational plan to ensure the long-term sustainability, institutional efficiency, and financial viability of the Centre. Additionally, it seeks to assess the trade ecosystem (local, regional, international), forecast demand for services, benchmark against global trade centres, and evaluate alternative models including public, private, PPP, non-profit, and hybrid options.

Scope

The scope of work includes:

• Conducting a feasibility study covering regulatory, institutional, market demand, and strategic positioning analyses.
• Developing operational, governance, and organizational models.
• Identifying funding sources and financial operational models, including revenue and cost projections, risk assessments, and financial sustainability analysis.
• Assessing trade ecosystem demand forecasting and benchmarking against global centres.
• Evaluating alternative operational models such as stakeholder consultations, public sector, private sector concession, PPP, non-profit, and hybrid models.
• Providing three comprehensive alternative implementation models with detailed institutional, legal, governance, risk mitigation, and investment strategies.
• Delivering key outputs including institutional structure options, governance frameworks, staffing, service delivery models, risk mitigation strategies, implementation roadmaps, and monitoring frameworks.
• Preparing and submitting detailed reports, including inception, feasibility, PPP suitability, final business plan, and stakeholder presentations within a 3-month timeframe.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements include:

• Identification of regulatory and institutional requirements.
• Market demand analysis and strategic positioning.
• Development of operational and governance models.
• Funding mechanism identification and financial modeling.
• Assessment of trade ecosystem demand and benchmarking.
• Evaluation of alternative models including stakeholder consultations, public sector, private sector concession, PPP, non-profit, and hybrid models.
• Provision of three detailed alternative implementation models with comprehensive analysis.
• Risk assessments covering market, financial, institutional, operational, and political/regulatory risks, along with mitigation strategies.
• Financial projections including capital investment, operational costs, revenue streams, and sustainability analysis.
• Development of an implementation roadmap, institutional establishment plan, investment attraction strategy, and monitoring framework.

Skills Requirements

The successful service provider must demonstrate:

• Experience in conducting feasibility studies and strategic advisory services related to large-scale development projects.
• Proven expertise in developing operational, governance, and financial models for trade or similar infrastructure projects.
• Strong background in market demand analysis, benchmarking, and trade ecosystem assessment.
• Capability to evaluate and recommend alternative models including public, private, PPP, non-profit, and hybrid structures.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, including public and private sector consultations.
• Ability to produce comprehensive reports, business plans, and stakeholder presentations within tight deadlines.
• Technical proficiency in risk assessment, financial modeling, and scenario analysis.
• Knowledge of relevant regulatory frameworks, land use, zoning, and legal structuring.
• Demonstrable experience in project implementation planning and institutional setup.