ALBERTON – The City of Ekurhuleni will be hosting major manufacturing companies and industry representatives at the interactive Manufacturing Round Table, at Emperor’s Palace, on Friday, June 19.
The Round Table will be held as a precursor to the two-day Manufacturing Indaba Conference and Exhibition, to be held on June 29 and 30.
The revitalisation of the manufacturing sector is one of the city’s flagship projects following the introduction of the Growth and Development Strategy 2055 (GDS 2055) which aims to develop Ekurhuleni into a sustainable city by 2055.
The manufacturing sector contributes about 15 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and is vital for creating employment in an economy where one in four people have been unable to find work, especially the youth.
Read: “Where is Alrode in the EMM budget?”
The Manufacturing Indaba – hosted by Ekurhuleni in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, Manufacturing Circle, Deloitte and others – will bring together business owners, manufacturing leaders, government officials, capital providers and professional experts to deliberate on the challenges that must be addressed in order to enhance manufacturing competitiveness and, in turn, strengthen the GDP.
The threat of other emerging economies and cheap labour continue to threaten the growth and prosperity of the South African manufacturing sector and this is among the challenges for which solutions will be sought at the Manufacturing Round Table, Conference and Exhibition.
The decline of the manufacturing industry in Alrode was discussed by executive mayor Mondli Gungubele at the annual budget address media briefing.
Listen to the Mayor and Finance MMC speak on the municipal financial plan:
https://soundcloud.com/east-rand-home-videos/ekurhuleni-budget-media-briefing
He stated that the revitalisation of manufacturing is a key component of the re-industrialisation pillar of the GDS. Clustering was mentioned as an intervention strategy to create efficiency. The mayor also stated that the metro is engaged in different programmes to promote investment in the area.
Read more Alrode coverage here:
Alrode business owners frustrated
Businesses are trickling out of Alrode
EMM presents Alrode energy solutions
Bridge the Gap: Business in Crisis
Inside Report: Industrial Nightmare
