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PRESS RELEASE
Launch of Manufacturing Indaba to Boost SA’s Manufacturing Sector
The Manufacturing Circle, which promotes and lobbies for the business interests of South Africa’s
biggest manufacturers, in association with Siyenza, is pleased to announce the launch of the annual
Manufacturing Indaba. Siyenza is an expert events and marketing firm with a formidable reputation
in the African energy and infrastructure events sector.
South Africa’s manufacturing industry continues to face tremendous challenges. With the flooding
of unfairly incentivised imports onto 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 at Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg, on the 19th and 20th May 2014. The event will bring
together public and private sector players from the manufacturing sector to debate, network and
promote the growth of South Africa’s manufacturing industries.
“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,” says 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 spinoffs 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,” says Liz Hart, conceptualiser of the
event and Managing Director 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,” says Hart.
Formed in 2008, the Manufacturing Circle interacts with government and other stakeholders in
order to review debate and help formulate policies which will have a positive impact on South
Africa’s manufacturing base. The Manufacturing Circle is made up of a number of South Africa’s
leading medium to large manufacturing companies from a wide range of industries. Some of the
members are leading South African exporters of manufactured goods to markets around the globe,
others are locally based and locally focused companies competing with the best in the world. There
is one common denominator among them and that is a passion for manufacturing coupled with a
fervent belief that for South Africa to be economically strong, its manufacturing sector must be
strong. A strong and developing manufacturing sector will drive the creation of skilled and semiskilled jobs in the South African economy.
Siyenza is no stranger to hosting large-scale business events that are strategically formulated to
promote Africa as a business region of choice. The company’s Africa Energy Indaba is the continent’s
premier energy event, endorsed by the World Energy Council and South African National Energy
Association. The Infrastructure Africa Business Forum is its other main event which is hosted
annually in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development during the
month of July.
PRESS RELEASE ENDS
More about the Manufacturing Indaba:
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:

What are the challenges and opportunities facing the South African manufacturing sector in the
next 5 years?

Localisation as a global trend: Developing and maintaining a skilled workforce.

Opportunities for growth in the small business manufacturing environment and how can big
manufacturers benefit from small business?

What incentives are there to ensure foreign investment and establishment of global companies
in the South African manufacturing sector?

Access to finance

Strategies for growth and competitive advantage including the productivity debate
Issued by:
Siyenza Management
Mbali Ndaba - 083 388 6465
Email: [email protected]
Lizette Stokes - 082 322 5162
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 011 463-9184
www.manufacturingindaba.co.za