"Not only are we facing increased electricity, transport and raw material costs on the local front, but the sharp increase in imports also poses a very real threat to our progress."
This sentiment was echoed by the Chairman of the Plastics|SA Board, Philip de Weerdt, who said that, during the past financial year, the plastics industry was forced to embrace change, adapt and face enormous challenges in a struggling economy which doesn't always facilitate local manufacturing.
Despite these obstacles, Hanekom said that the industry had shown signs of growth, particularly in the plastics recycling industry and that new entrants are joining the industry on a monthly basis.
The guest speaker at the AGM was Professor Ben Turok, a recently retired Member of Parliament who represented the ANC. In the 1994 government, he was first Head of the Commission on the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) in the Gauteng Provincial Cabinet before moving to Parliament in 1995. He was the Co-Chairman of the Committee on Ethics and Member's Interests of both Houses in Parliament. In his speech to the plastics industry, Turok challenged them to be proactive in their engagements with the country's leaders and in setting the agenda for discussions that will protect and strengthen the local plastics industry.
"Government and business need each other. The one cannot exist without the other. The challenge we're facing in South Africa at the moment, however, is that there isn't a good relationship between the two due to a lack of trust," Professor Turok said.
He also encouraged plastics leaders to build and strengthen this relationship, by ensuring that the government is kept in the loop with regards to progress, breakthroughs and developments.
"CEO's of the large plastics companies must ensure that they have a voice and that they are being heard," Turok stressed.
Another highlight of the AGM was the announcement of the new Board of Directors, which will provide strategic input and direction to Plastics|SA through 2015:
The SA Plastics industry recently announced its Zero Plastics to Landfill by 2030 aspirational objective, and is engaging with all levels of government to achieve this target.
"Together with our associations, Plastics|SA takes its task very seriously of ensuring we have a vibrant, active and relative industry. We have a clear strategy and know what is expected of us this coming year. We are an important, vibrant, growing and a relevant industry, and we will continue to focus our attentions on growing the SA plastics industry," Hanekom concluded.
To download the Plastics|SA 2014 Annual Report, go to www.plasticsinfo.co.za
