*Caption: KwaZulu-Natal MEC Sihle Zikalala

Written by: Nqobile Msomi

The Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) hosted the Manufacturing Indaba which included a keynote speech from MEC Sihle Zikalala and various CEOs.

Nigel Gwynn-Evans, on behalf of the Minister of Trade and Industry said, “The Manufacturing Indaba takes place against the background of an increasingly uncertain global and volatile conditions. The global financial crisis of 2008 and the local recession has been followed by subsequent aftershocks including the global economic commodity slip, the collapse of the price of oil, the steel price and great volatility in the financial market.”

He continued to explain how the economic market was suffering due to the outcomes of the recession and global economic crisis.

“It’s constantly against us and that is why we as the government have released the 8th annual IPAP (Industrial Policy Action Plan) which would support the diversification of the economy and build upon the important linkages between the primary minerals, agricultural sector and the manufacturing sector. It would also break the economy’s dependency of exported resources,” concluded Gywnn-Evans.

Zikalala said that they were gathered to stimulate growth in the manufacturing industry and also shared the steps that government was taking in order to help the manufacturing sector.

“Presently the province is finalizing the development of suit of industrial support measures for manufacturers interested in locating into the Industrial Economic Hubs spread across different districts in the province. These support measures would be over and above the national incentives that exist for manufacturers such as the Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Program, Manufacturing Investment Program and Capital Expenditure Incentive,” he said.

Director of Cubicle Solutions, Sue Hardcroft, had her stand at the Indaba and shared what she hoped to get from the gathering.

“Manufacturing Indaba for me is more about the networking and the contacts that I can make. When I looked at the agenda and saw that there would be opportunities to find out about funding, and if there is something out there that I don’t know about. But its mostly just about networking and learning from other people in business because in busines you never stop learning,” she said.