Exporting of professional services the answer for SA consulting engineers

28 March 2001 News

In order to curb the loss of professional capacity in the consulting engineering environment as a result of a shortage of work in South Africa, the South African Association of Consulting Engineers (SAACE) is putting considerable effort into the exporting of services to countries experiencing a shortage of skills. The SAACE is reporting some success in this initiative, which forms part of a broader strategic thrust towards the establishment of an Export Council.

Says SAACE Executive Director, Graham Pirie: "A large number of the world's engineering associations are experiencing high levels of work among their members, but are in many cases experiencing a shortage of professional and related engineering skills.

"The situation in South Africa is very different and we are trying to match the under-capacity of international companies with our need for work but in a manner which curbs immigration and relocation. The answer lies in the advent of electronic technology, which allows our engineers to carry out most of the work here."

At present the SAACE is working with its Irish counterpart and reports that 70 of its member firms have expressed an interest in working with Irish firms and 20 Irish firms are interested in using the skills of South African firms.

Pirie says that the SAACE is committed to assisting its members to export their consulting services internationally in addition to ensuring that its member firms are globally competitive. "In a declining economy and with the amount of available work shrinking, you have to be globally competitive whether you stay at home or not," said Pirie.

SAACE, (011) 463 2022.

Further reading:

From the editor's desk: Pricing surge reshapes engineering reality
Technews Publishing News
The recent and continuing surge in memory prices has become more than a supply-chain story confined to global semiconductor markets. We have watched in disbelief as the ASP of memory has risen by over ...

Read more...

---

Siemens democratises EDA software access
News
This collaboration will provide streamlined access to advanced electronic design automation software for European semiconductor innovation.

Read more...

---

Components distribution: A promising trend
News
The European electronic components market returned to solid growth in Q1, gaining 16,9%, with broad, but uneven, momentum across the region.

Read more...

---

New appointment for Links Field team
Links Field Networks News
Links Field Networks is excited to welcome Jarrod Hutton to the company as a technical sales representative, bringing a powerful combination of technical expertise, creativity, and a genuine passion for innovation.

Read more...

---

Solar skills empower Alexandra youth
News
To support developing renewable energy skills, Yellow Door Energy launched YDE Lumen30, a programme that trained 30 young people from Alexandra township in Johannesburg.

Read more...

---

Advancing hydrogen mobility in South Africa
News
The hydrogen refueller was developed using South African engineering expertise and complies with 42 international and local standards.

Read more...

---

RE+ South Africa 2026: From strategy to execution
News
Taking place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 02 to 04 June 2026, this new addition to South Africa’s energy landscape introduces a focused commercial and industrial energy event within a proven exhibition platform.

Read more...

---

Africa Energy Indaba announces 2027 dates
News
Following the continued success and growing global impact of the Africa Energy Indaba, organisers have announced the dates for the 19th edition of the Africa Energy Indaba 2027.

Read more...

---

RS South Africa named master distributor for the Arduino UNO Q
RS South Africa News
RS South Africa announced that it has been named Master Distributor for the Arduino UNO Q SBC platform across South Africa and the broader African region.

Read more...

---

Engineering in a world that cannot assume connectivity
Technews Publishing Editor's Choice News
Across industrial automation, networking, and defence systems, engineers are rediscovering the importance of resilience and autonomy in an increasingly connected world.

Read more...

---