Johannesburg, 17 Nov 2016
As an integral part of the Netherlands Economic Trade Mission to South Africa, the Manufacturing Accelerator Programme (MAPTM) hosted a round table on Tuesday, 17 November at the House of the Future at Turbine Hall in Newtown for executive officers of state-owned companies, Dutch-owned companies in SA and selected representatives of the visiting Dutch delegation to accelerate localisation. The initiative, held in conjunction with the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), encouraged delegates to discuss their challenges and wish lists of potential co-operation and assistance from the Dutch government and from each other in terms of stimulating both economies.
The "Supplier Development Opportunities for Dutch Companies in South Africa" round table discussion was arranged by the Industrialisation Supplier Development Association (ISDA) and MAPTM in collaboration with the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and SANEC as part of the five-day House of the Future event and the official visit of the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Bringing together stakeholders from South Africa and the Netherlands, the round table discussion gave us the platform to discuss new trade opportunities and possibilities for collaboration. MAPTM shared information about how it can help state-owned companies and various stakeholders to improve their supplier bases and competitiveness in terms of cost, quality and on time delivery. It also shared information with regards to the projected SOC spend for the next ten years and how suppliers should go about becoming registered vendors, which was well received.
Ian Huntly, one of the founding members of the MAPTM initiative, said this is the largest trade mission to sub-Saharan Africa in Dutch history and bodes well for local enterprise in South Africa. Taking place from 15 - 18 November the visit will be led by Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, joined by Minister of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Martijn Van Dam and representatives of over 75 companies. Representatives are from companies representing four of the leading economic sectors on which the Dutch economic partnership is focused namely agri-food and horticulture, water, transport and logistics as well as life sciences and health.
Prime Minister Rutte confirmed the longstanding relationship between South Africa and the Netherlands is a strong one, encompassing politics, business and culture. In the recent past, the Netherlands was a partner for South Africa in their quest for equality. He said they had now transformed the relationship into a fully-fledged economic partnership that benefits both countries. He confirmed he and his delegation were looking forward to continuing the close cooperation in the future on many topics of mutual interest, including science and technology, migration and trade and investment.
South Africa is the Netherlands' most important market in sub-Saharan Africa. It is South Africa's eighth-biggest trading partner, a major foreign investor, and the second-biggest market for the country's agricultural exports. More than 350 Dutch businesses, both multinationals and small and medium sized enterprises, operate in the South African market. Together they generate more than 100 000 jobs for the South African economy.
Huntly confirmed Dutch businesses are seeking long-term partnerships. "They have tremendous innovative capacity and want to work together with South African businesses to boost productivity and create jobs. This trade mission is an excellent opportunity to assist Dutch companies in doing business in and with South Africa and bring our countries even closer together as business partners," said Huntly.
The MAPTM is a worldwide initiative developed in order to release the potential of the manufacturing industry. MAPTM is a programme for manufacturing companies which consists of an integrated set of services and tools. With MAPTM enrolment, companies have a focus on what they can do to grow and increase their global competitiveness. It supports continuous and on-going improvements in the control of business and profitability.
MAPTM has been working actively with several industry associations and partners who share the vision for a vibrant manufacturing sector. In South Africa MAPTM collaborates with organisations such as The South African capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC), Industrialisation Supplier Development Association (ISDA), Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), South African Graduates Development Association (SAGDA) and many others. In many countries MAPTM has become the preferred solution for supplier development for manufacturing companies.
The purpose of the Memoranda of Agreement between ISDA and MAPTM and between Transnet and MAPTM is to work towards the common objective of promoting and developing companies to act as industrial suppliers to state-owned companies (SOCs) in South Africa. While MAPTM's role will be to develop opportunities by raising funding where needed, mentoring and training, implementing Smart IT Solutions and developing new educational material in conjunction with business schools, the ISDA supports the implementation of localisation, transformation and industrialisation programmes within the supplier communities of state-owned companies and other strategic industry sectors to ensure the sustainability and long-term growth of their supplier bases. Transnet is keen to develop and transform their suppliers both directly and through their OEMs to become a globally competitive rolling stock industry in line with the National Development Plan, and will facilitate all parties developing the OEMs compliance to their commitments to local content obligations. Transnet is partnering with ISDA and MAPTM to implement the MAPTM Programme to its first five suppliers before rolling out into subsequent implementations with more suppliers.
Thabiso Taaka, Chairman of the Industrialisation Supplier Development Association (ISDA), added: "MAPTM has signed agreements with the ISDA and Transnet to develop suppliers to become internationally competitive and sustainable manufacturing businesses that will go a long way to aid the revival and transformation of the manufacturing sector in South Africa, and we are pleased to have selected MAPTM for this critical part of the evolution of our country's democracy. The Dutch have played an important role in the country's transition and remain one of our key allies."
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