KZN electronics industry association formed to stimulate growth and employment
25 August 2004
News
In a bid to stimulate growth, retain skills and create employment in the electronics sector in KwaZulu-Natal, an interim association has been formed charged with the task of encouraging players in this sector to participate in the campaign.
A panel of delegates representing the electronics sector met recently at the KZN Innovation Support Centre (KZN ISC) where Andrew Austin, marketing manager at PFK Electronics was elected interim chairman and Roger Couzens from Natcom, deputy chairman. The panel was addressed by Nisaar Mahomed, director special projects at the department of Economic Development. He said that the department had been mandated to develop an ICT and electronics cluster, but was hamstrung because information on the players in KZN was 'scratchy'.
"We are looking at building a database of large corporations, small to medium enterprises and individuals that identify who the players are, where they are located, what their core competencies are and how we can assist them in growth and employment creation. In short we need a geographic snapshot of the size of the industry."
He pointed out that the creation of a Cyber Port at the proposed King Shaka Airport north of Durban would position KZN as the country's central logistics hub. A further objective was to retain the current skills in KZN and to build these skills across the industry sectors with particular emphasis on black penetration.
The interim panel decided that the KZN Electronic Industry Association needed to focus on developing the infrastructure in the province making it beneficial to be here and create centres of excellence.
A mission statement was drawn up comprising the following criteria:
* Stimulate economic growth in the electronics sector.
* Retain, develop and attract skills.
* Identify and mitigate bottlenecks.
* Support the local electronics sector.
* Lobby national, local and provincial government at all levels.
* Develop an infrastructure to support the growth of the sector and attract new players.
* Influence academia.
* Garner support from professional bodies.
* Act as a forum to interact with business.
* Drive innovation for growth.
* Develop a mechanism to market and promote the KZN electronic industry.
* Identify financial resources.
The KZN ISC is making its website: www.innovation.org.za, available for players in the electronic sector to participate in building the database. Anyone interesting in joining the association is requested to forward their details to [email protected].
Further reading:
Rooibos heads to space
News
A South African scientific initiative linking agriculture and space research has officially launched today with the Rooibos in Space programme at Parklands College’s Innovation Centre in Cape Town.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: Local can be international
Technews Publishing
Editor's Choice News
Welcome to the July 2026 issue of
Dataweek. As you can see from this introduction,
Dataweek’s regular editor, Peter Howells, is on extended leave and I am filling the void in his editor’s column – hopefully without being too boring.
Read more...
Landis+Gyr EMEA introduces new company name: EYKON
News
EYKON is the new company name of Landis+Gyr EMEA, formerly part of the Landis+Gyr Group. The company supports electricity, gas, water and thermal utilities in managing increasingly complex networks, improving operational efficiency and enabling more sustainable use of resources.
Read more...
Yamaha Robotics will show visitors to EFX
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services News
Yamaha Robotics will show visitors to EFX 2026, the Expo for Electronics Manufacturing, in Stuttgart from 6-8 October 2026, how advanced surface-mount automation helps companies grow their business and increase productivity.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: The art of measuring the truth
Technews Publishing
Editor's Choice News
All electronic measurements are a lie. The trick is making the lie as small as possible.
Read more...
TSE has relocated
News
The Technology Station in Electronics (TSE) has entered a new chapter with its relocation from the CSIR campus to TUT-owned building at Ditsela Place in Hatfield.
Read more...
Innovative MyLegrand app
RS South Africa
News
Legrand SA is set to launch the MyLegrand mobile application, a digital platform designed to strengthen engagement across its professional network.
Read more...
Kulani Energy acquires critical assets from Optipower
News
Kulani Energy preserves engineering, procurement, and construction capability and positions a wholly women-owned firm at the forefront of South Africa’s grid expansion.
Read more...
From Cape Town to Johannesburg
News
Würth Elektronik South Africa has taken a significant step forward with its recent relocation from Cape Town to Johannesburg, marking a new phase of growth and ambition for the company.
Read more...
Lesley Havenga: Building partnerships for Africa’s electronics future
Editor's Choice News
As Würth Electronik expands its footprint across South Africa and the broader sub-Saharan region, Havenga’s blend of manufacturing expertise, supply chain knowledge, and people-centred leadership appears well suited to the task.
Read more...
printer friendly version