Manufacturing Indaba launched

South Africa's manufacturing industry continues to face challenges. With the flooding of unfairly incentivised imports into our markets, local producers of goods that use locally sourced raw materials face serious barriers to competing fairly in the global and regional manufacturing sectors. The growth of other emerging economies and the cheap labour they offer also threatens the growth and prosperity of the South African manufacturing sector, which, in turn, affects our nation's productivity and GDP.

The Manufacturing Indaba will address the barriers facing the manufacturing industry and will be held in the heart of Africa's business hub - in Johannesburg - at Gallagher Estate on 12 and 13 November, 2013. The conference will bring together business owners, industry leaders, government officials, capital providers and professional experts to discuss challenges and to brainstorm solutions.

Growing and boosting South Africa's manufacturing sector

"The launch of this event will bolster existing programmes, such as the important Industrial Policy Action Plan, which prioritises manufacturing as a key growth sector for the future," said the Manufacturing Circle's executive director, Coenraad Bezuidenhout. "By growing and boosting South Africa's manufacturing sector, the whole country and SADC region will benefit as the positive spin-offs to growing the manufacturing industry is enormous."

"We are very pleased with the launch of the Manufacturing Indaba, because we see the growth potential for job creation and skills development of this sector for South Africa," said Liz Hart, conceptualiser of the event and MD of Siyenza. "The success of our nation depends on a strong-and-innovative manufacturing base and we must continue to work together to promote prosperity through manufacturing, science and innovation."

What to expect

The conference programme will include plenary sessions as well as breakaway debate sessions to unpack and encourage active participation at the event.

Topics to be discussed include: