In a formal presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee at the invitation of the Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Rob Davies, the Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) has come out in support of the Industrial Policy Action Plan.
The SAISC was represented by its chairman Molefe Kgomo; executive director Dr Hennie de Clercq; industry development executive Kobus de Beer; and Steinmüller's Bob Stephens.
In his report outlined in the National Assembly in February this year, Minister Davies says that IPAP2 builds on the National Industrial Policy Framework (NIPF) and the 2007/08 IPAP. "It represents a significant step forward in scaling up our efforts to promote long term industrialisation and industrial diversification beyond our current reliance on traditional commodities and non-tradable services. Its purpose is to expand production in value-added sectors with high employment and growth multipliers that compete in export markets as well as compete in the domestic market against imports."
"Our industry agrees with and supports the basic outline and purposes set out by the Minister," says the SAISC's de Clercq (seen here). "We are particularly supportive of the move to having Industrial Policy geared up to achieve the genuine and comprehensive involvement of all government and industry players."
He adds that through various initiatives, substantial progress has already been made by the steel construction industry under the framework created by IPAP2. These include: scaled up efforts to promote long term industrialisation through new investments - during the last three years (2006-2009) the industry invested some R1-billion in world-class equipment and facilities; achieving increased skills development and employment; increased industrial diversification with the industry now serving the power generation, mining, materials handling, petrochemical, transport, logistics, retailing, processing and high rise building industries and achieving better competitiveness against imports. The industry has responded to all major requirements including a meaningful local content for the soccer stadiums and the maintaining of a high level of export participation.