JOHANNESBURG, 3 May 2021 – The sixth Southern African Metals and Engineering (M&E) Indaba taking place in Johannesburg on 24-25 May 2021 will delve into pertinent topics as industry stakeholders gather to discuss solutions to revive the ailing sector.
Organised by the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) in partnership with the Independent Development Corporation (IDC), the Indaba brings together business, labour and the Government to engage on how to address challenges facing the sector.
Among the topics to be discussed at the Indaba, which takes place at the IDC Auditorium in Sandton, Johannesburg is the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s Reimagined Industrial strategy, which seeks to develop industries by building partnerships with the private sector, using the various sectoral master plans, including the Steel Master Plan, as the launchpad towards a shared vision for job creation.
A panel of speakers, including SEIFSA Chief Economist Chifipa Mhango and ArcelorMittal CEO Kobus Verster, will engage on the Steel Master Plan, providing an update on it and other sectoral master plans. Among the questions to be answered is whether the master plans will make a difference to the economy and succeed in creating much-needed jobs. The discussion is also expected to give an update on the Steel Master Plan, which has yet to be finalised.
“The various master plans are expected to play a central role in helping revive struggling industries. Their significant role means that we need to continuously interrogate whether they are likely to achieve their stated aims,” said SEIFSA CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba.
“As the M&E sector, we need to be vocal about whether the Steel Master Plan will work – and where we think it can be further refined. It is apt that this takes place on a platform such as the M&E Indaba, which was established on the principle of a partnership between the Government, business, labour and civil society,” he said.