Keynote speakers from around the world will descend on Sandton with the aim of sparking the revival of Southern Africa’s metals and engineering sector in particular and the manufacturing sector in general.

This year’s conference line-up includes the following International speakers:

  • International Monetary Fund Senior Resident Representative Dr Axel Schimmelpfennig;
  • Executive Chairman of the EU Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Southern Africa Mr Stefan Sakoschek;
  • US Embassy Economics Minister Mr Laird Trieber;
  • International Labour Organisation Acting Director Dr Joni Musabayana; and
  • Zimbabwean industrialist Mr Ian Conolly.

These international speakers are in addition to senior South African leaders in business, labour and Government.
Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) Chief Executive Officer Kaizer Nyatsumba said South Africa is rightfully recognised in the world as a cornucopia of mineral riches. The country is the largest producer of chromium and vanadium ores and a significant producer of iron and manganese ores. The challenge has always been how to use these mineral riches to fast-track economic development to the benefit of all South Africans.

“We are pleased to have all these industry greats at this year’s Indaba as well as a high-level delegation from the South African Government. We look forward to a meaningful and results-driven engagement by all parties on this important subject,” Mr Nyatsumba said.
He said that he was delighted to see that the Indaba was, indeed, poised to grow from strength to strength, with the high calibre of speakers at this year’s conference being a confirmation of that growth.
Proceedings at the Indaba will begin tomorrow morning (Thursday, 26 May) with an Opening Address by Former President Kgalema Motlanthe, with Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan delivering the Closing Address on Friday afternoon. Another anticipated keynote address will be given by Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu, who will be the main speaker in a plenary session focusing on relations between small business and big business in the metals and engineering sector.

The 2016 Indaba will focus on the following topics, among others:

  • Government Policy Interventions for a Sustainable, Globally Competitive Steel Sector
  • Partners, Not Adversaries: How to Forge A Stronger Partnership Between Business and Labour to Improve Southern Africa’s International Competitiveness
  • A Delicate Balancing Act: The Link Between the Metals and Engineering Sector and the Mining, Construction and Car Manufacturing Industries
  • Southern Africa and the Huge Infrastructure Backlog – How to finance it.
  • The Economy, Geo-Politics and Manufacturing: Has BRICS negatively affected South Africa’s Economic Relationship with the West irrevocably?