Q&A with Coenraad Bezuidenhout: Overcoming the decline in manufacturing production

What can be done to overcome such challenges in this sector?

Bezuidenhout: In the Manufacturing Circle our members have set three goals for themselves to address these matters comprehensively:

Goal 1: Achieve a competitive manufacturing environment

• Encourage coherent, coordinated and consistent economic policy, regulation and policy implementation.
  
• Ensure efficient spending, cost recoupment and price regulation for public infrastructure and utility services that support manufacturing growth.
  
• Engage on the importance and maintenance of a skills pipeline.
  
• Endorse environmental measures and legislation that support sustainable access to land, raw materials and beneficiation.

Goal 2: Attain a supportive international trade position:

• Thrust fair trade forward through necessary adjustment to tariff and non-tariff barriers.
  
• Tie up closer with African regions and key export markets.
  
• Track better transport linkages to regional and key markets.
  
• Take up the benefits of a stable and competitive exchange rate.

Goal 3: Advance the reputation of SA manufactured products:

• Promote preferential procurement for locally manufactured and beneficiated products.
  
• Partner in a strong above-the-line buy local and buy South Africa campaign.

With manufacturing production on the decline, this will surely have an impact on employment? What are your thoughts on the situation?

Bezuidenhout: Employment has remained stubbornly under the contraction mark for more than a year now. Chief threats to employment retention and growth are mechanisation and the substitution of locally manufactured inputs for imported equivalents. The chief drivers in the case of all three are the spectre of labour instability and and in the instance of the latter, electricity outages.

You will be speaking at the upcoming Manufacturing Indaba. What are some of the issues that you will be addressing?

Bezuidenhout: The Manufacturing Circle will be launching its three goals in a more fleshed document entitled Three Goals to Grow Manufacturing: South Africa's Greatest Opportunity for Job-rich Growth.

These such gatherings always seem to bring some optimism to the industry. Do you believe that South Africa can recover from the challenges we're faced with?

Bezuidenhout: Absolutely! There are huge opportunities on the continent that could boost manufacturing as well as changing global dynamics which could yield positive results for South Africa's competitiveness as a manufacturing investment destination.

Coenraad Bezuidenhout will be presenting at The Manufacturing Indaba which takes place from 29-30 June 2015 at Emperors Palace in Gauteng, South Africa.

For more, go to www.manufacturingindaba.co.za