Seifsa CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba
The metals and engineering sector, which has been underperforming in recent years, will come under microscopic scrutiny when stakeholders from business, labour and government meet at the second Southern African Metals and Engineering Indaba in May.
Former Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe would open the event, which would be held at the Industrial Development Corporation’s (IDC’s) premises, in Johannesburg, from May 26 to 27.
IDC corporate affairs divisional executive Zama Luthuli said it was important that institutions such as the IDC support such critical initiatives, given the important role of the sector in the national economy.
“The indaba provides an occasion both for industry players and government to engage and come up with solutions to address issues impacting the sector,” she noted.
Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba said the organisation was delighted to welcome the IDC on board as a strategic partner for the indaba.
“In many ways, the partnership between Seifsa and the IDC is eminently logical and sensible. Seifsa and the IDC are instrumental in the industrialisation of the country, in our case through the contribution of the metals and engineering sector,” he added.
This years’ indaba would reflect on whether the manufacturing sector in Southern Africa was doing better than a year earlier, the government policy interventions required to ensure a sustainable and competitive steel sector and the implementation of the National Development Plan.
Delegates would also explore the link between the metals and engineering sector and the mining, construction and vehicle manufacturing industries.