Discussions held at the Indaba, included challenges and opportunities facing the South African manufacturing sector in the near future, advanced manufacturing and the impact and trends of mechanisation, including innovation, procurement for manufacturing growth, including skills development, industrial financing, incentives and private sector investment, to name a few.
The Declaration was made between seven partners namely the metro, Productivity SA, Manufacturing Circle, Proudly South Africa, SEIFSA, NCPC-SA and Deloitte Manufacturing to deliver on a number of identified items.
The parties acknowledge that the South African economy is confronted with increased global and domestic structural deficit, productivity and competitiveness constraints that are magnified by the triple developmental challenges, such as poverty, unemployment and inequality, which have a direct impact on the manufacturing sector.
Having acknowledged these challenges, the partners will aim to deliver the following:
n Promote national interest imperatives for the development of the manufacturing sector in South Africa.
n Work towards growing the South African Manufacturing sector in conjunction with our African and other emerging market counterparts.
n Grow existing and new value chains to encourage inward investment and local procurement.
n Promote good corporate citizenry at every level.
n Promote human development with particular emphasis on education and skills to support the sector.
n Assist to mobilise all stakeholders in South Africa through regular engagements in order to advance advocacy and debate that promotes the development of the manufacturing sector.
