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.
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