International conference on offsets
The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), Port Elizabeth will hold a conference addressing the benefits of offset and counter-trade agreements on 12-13 November 2009. A number of international and local experts will address delegates.
A one-day Executive Master Class on Offsets, which will provide a primer for local and international delegates who manage and oversee corporate offset programmes, will precede the conference on November 11. UK offset professional Roger Bulgin of the DMA will lead it. Among the panel of participating experts will be Dov Hyman (Dolin International, USA), Lindsey Shanson (CTO, UK) and Professor Richard Haines (NMMU, South Africa).
The conference will cover:
• International best practices on civilian and military offsets;
• Promote a better understanding of the complex South African offset environment;
• Stimulate debate and interaction among industry practitioners and other relevant stakeholders who do business on the sub-continent;
• Explore developing other industrial participation and partnership programmes throughout sub-Saharan Africa;
• Consider how to deliver more creative 'benefits focused' offset solutions
Speakers include:
• Thandi Modise, deputy general secretary of the ANC and previous chair of Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence;
• Maj. Gen (ret) Otto Schur, chief technical officer Denel (former chief director of acquisitions, Department of Defence),
• Charles Stride, director (former economic advisor to the Minister of Finance)
• Dov Hyman (Dolin International, USA)
According to Haines, to accelerate the recovery of regions and companies from the recession business and local authorities can leverage offset and counter-trade agreements.
Examples of such opportunities are the continued government spending on infrastructure, as well as a planned R20-billion oil refinery in Nelson Mandela Bay, which are both creating opportunities for projects funded through offsets and counter-trade. Mega projects elsewhere on the African continent could also create opportunities for South African companies.
"There is a misconception that offsets are only linked to military expenditure. Most governments have a policy that there must be offsets attached to any large-scale project," says Haines.
