Next month will welcome a new conference aimed at bringing together public and private sector players to debate, network and promote the growth of South Africa’s manufacturing industries. Electrotechnical and ICT is one of the sectors singled out as having potential for the development of long-term advanced capabilities.
To be held at Emperor’s Palace near Johannesburg on the 19th and 20th of May, the inaugural Manufacturing Indaba is an initiative of the Manufacturing Circle, which promotes and lobbies for the business interests of South Africa’s biggest manufacturers, and will be organised by Siyenza, which also hosts the Africa Energy Indaba.
South Africa’s manufacturing industry continues to face tremendous challenges.
With the flooding of unfairly incentivised imports onto our markets, local producers of goods that use locally sourced raw materials face serious barriers to competing fairly in the global and regional manufacturing sectors. The growth of other emerging economies and the cheap labour they offer also threatens the growth and prosperity of the South African manufacturing sector, which in turn affects our nation’s productivity and GDP.
Formed in 2008, the Manufacturing Circle interacts with government and other stakeholders in order to review debate and help formulate policies which will have a positive impact on South Africa’s manufacturing base. It is made up of a number of South Africa’s leading medium to large manufacturing companies from a wide range of industries. Some of the members are leading South African exporters of manufactured goods to markets around the globe, others are locally based and locally focused companies competing with the best in the world.
The conference programme will include plenary sessions as well as breakaway debate sessions to unpack and encourage active participation at the event. Broadly, the topics to be discussed include:
* Identifying the challenges and opportunities facing the South African manufacturing sector in the next five years.
* Localisation as a global trend: developing and maintaining a skilled workforce.
* Opportunities for growth in the small business manufacturing environment and how big manufacturers can benefit from small business.
* Discussing what incentives exist to ensure foreign investment and establishment of global companies in the South African manufacturing sector.
* Access to finance.
* Strategies for growth and competitive advantage including the productivity debate.
For more information visit www.manufacturingindaba.co.za
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