In promoting the transformation of the South African manufacturing industry from its current state to a more competitive player in the globalised marketplace, Deloitte, a global leading professional services firm, has extended its efforts beyond servicing the industry. The firm is actively involved in the growth and upliftment of the manufacturing industry across automotive, chemicals, metals, aerospace & defence, industrial products and services, and forestry, paper and packaging. Deloitte's efforts are extended to tireless investment in research, such as Manufacturing Competitiveness, to improve the country's performance and also facilitate and grow conversations and relationships with key industry bodies, the DTI and the Manufacturing Indaba.
According to Karthi Pillay, Deloitte Africa Manufacturing Leader, the Manufacturing Indaba presents an opportunity for the firm to partner with other manufacturing forces in the country to develop workable solutions that will add to the competitiveness in the industry.
"The Deloitte Global Competitiveness Survey ranked South Africa as 24th for manufacturing competitiveness and predicted a slide to 25th position in the next five years - this is worrying for an industry that is key to our economic growth and the development of job opportunities. It is therefore imperative that we use our collective strengths to not only drive solutions that enhance our competitiveness in South Africa, but also robustly explore how we integrate into Africa," says Pillay. "From a Deloitte perspective, this means being a strategic advisor to business and Government and an enabler of innovation and growth - by providing expert insights on the manufacturing industry's movements and policies so that both business and Government are armed with the knowledge and expertise that allows our country to improve our competitiveness."
The Manufacturing Indaba is the brainchild of the Manufacturing Circle, the largest manufacturing lobby group for the business interests of South Africa's manufacturers, and Siyenza. Siyenza is an expert events and marketing firm with a formidable reputation in the African energy and infrastructure events sector. The theme for the inaugural conference is "Manufacturing Innovation: Smart Manufacturing for Economic Growth".
"We are very pleased with the launch of the Manufacturing Indaba because we see the growth potential for job creation and skills development of this sector," says Liz Hart, Managing Director of Siyenza. "The success of our nation depends on a strong and innovative manufacturing base with Deloitte on board as our knowledge partner we believe we can leverage this powerful collaboration of strategic partners to promote prosperity through manufacturing, science and innovation," says Hart.
According to the Manufacturing Circle's Executive Director, Coenraad Bezuidenhout, the timing for the launch of the Manufacturing Indaba is critical. "The launch of this event will bolster existing programmes, such as the important Industrial Policy Action Plan, which prioritises manufacturing as a key growth sector for the future," he says. "By growing and boosting South Africa's manufacturing sector, the whole country and SADC region will benefit as the positive spin-offs to growing the manufacturing industry is enormous."
Siyenza is no stranger to hosting large-scale business events that are strategically formulated to promote Africa as a business region of choice. The company's Africa Energy Indaba is the continent's premier energy event, endorsed by the World Energy Council and South African National Energy Association. The Infrastructure Africa Business Forum is its other main event which is hosted annually in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development during the month of July.
The conference programme will include plenary sessions as well as breakaway debate sessions to unpack and encourage active participation at the event. Topics to be discussed include:
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