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Inspiring Mondi people for long-term success

Mondi’s significant activities in a number of key areas reflect a strong commitment to transformation and B-BBEE. This is confirmed by Mondi’s Level One contributor status under the under the Forestry Sector Broad Based Economic Empowerment codes, as verified by an independent assessment.

Enterprise development

Mondi Zimele, established in 2007, is our small business development organisation. Its initial focus was on accelerating black economic empowerment in the forestry value chain. In 2012 the focus expanded to incorporate support for community-based small businesses around Mondi’s operations. This was enabled through the establishment of the Mondi Zimele Jobs Fund, an enterprise development initiative co-funded by the Jobs Fund.

Since 2012, Mondi Zimele has provided approximately R100-million in loan funding to assist over 200 local businesses in the creation of more than 2 800 jobs. Mondi Zimele has also been instrumental in the establishment of several land claimant community contractors where we continue to emphasise productivity improvement, business administration and compliance as the key to success for these SMEs.

The Mondi Zimele and Department of Trade and Industry (dti) Forestry Contractor Incubator Programme has over 30 contractors as enrolled small businesses, with a focus on growing skills, management capability and improving their operational know-how.

We are able to maintain a steady supply of high-quality fibre from a network of small forest enterprises with on average 87 000 tonnes of the timber supplied to our Richards Bay mill coming from these suppliers.

Land claims

An innovative sale and leaseback model has been developed with a successful mechanism for settling claims with and supporting land-claimant communities. Following a successful land-claims process, communities have ownership of the land and associated rental revenues but also receive assistance to develop sustainable forestry enterprises and forestry-related skills.

In this way communities immediately derive a rental income from their land but also develop the know-how to potentially farm timber for themselves into the future. Approaching land reform in this developmental and inclusive way means we are able to retain a sustainable source of wood supply into the future.

Skills and people development

We invest significantly in skills and leadership development, offering talented individuals interesting careers as part of a global group. We are particularly proud of the progress women are making in Mondi South Africa, holding positions such as CFO, Procurement Director, Head of Mondi Zimele and as artisans, foresters, safety managers, nursery manager and in the fields of engineering, finance, human resources and more.

R8-billion investment over five years

At the President’s Investment Summit in 2018, Viv McMenamin, CEO Mondi South Africa, announced, “We focus on investing in our world-class assets to maintain our cost advantage. Over the next five years we will be investing a total of around R8-billion in our South African operations, which includes ongoing investment in our forestry assets and the modernisation of our pulp, containerboard and paper assets, subject to approval by the Mondi boards.”

Community development

Our well-established approach is focused on investing in communities living on our land or near operations. A leading community development initiative is the Mkondo Development Project (Piet Retief), a pioneering public-private partnership focused on improving the living conditions of people in isolated villages on forestry land, and to find sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty and offering security of tenure. The pilot Jabulani Agri-village has been completed and eight other Agri-villages are in progress.

The commitment to education is widespread and the recently expanded Ligbron E-learning system is now operational in a further three rural schools. Each e-learning classroom has an e-Boxx with a SMART interactive whiteboard, a digital camera, sound system and alarm system. This technology facilitates the weekly live streaming of mathematics and science lessons that are shared by using video conferencing and desktop sharing. During live streaming, the image of the teachers/learners from linked schools is visible on the SMART board. The SMART boards display the presentation and any student and teacher can write on the SMART board and ask questions from their own school.

Mondi believes strongly that by working in partnerships with government, communities and NGOs we will be able to find sustainable land reform solutions.

We believe that being part of the solution to global challenges will secure the long-term success of our business and the well-being of our communities and other stakeholders.

Part of the solution

Viv McMenamin, CEO Mondi South Africa, adds: “Our South African business continues to be a strong contributor to Mondi’s success story. From our sustainably managed forests, to our world-class pulp and containerboard operation in Richards Bay, to being the number one office paper producer in South Africa. We believe in the value of being part of the solution to global and local sustainability challenges and I am proud of the work we are doing in partnership with our communities, government and other key stakeholders. This gives me great confidence in the future of Mondi South Africa!”

www.mondigroup.com

Voorspoed Mine donates clinics and empowers youth

Free State Health MEC Montseng Tsiu and De Beers Managed Operations Head of Corporate Affairs, Innocent Mabusela.

De Beers Group’s Voorspoed Mine has donated two mobile clinics in Kroonstad to serve the local communities of Moqhaka Municipality and surrounding farms in the Fezile Dabi District.

The Boitumelo Regional Hospital was the site of the donation of the mobile clinics on 26 March 2019. The clinics form part of Voorspoed Mine’s Social and Labour Plan, specifically its Community Development Programme, which aims to uplift communities of the Free State Province and develop a working partnership with the Department of Health. In 2018, De Beers Group implemented a Social Performance Strategy with health and wellness being one of the strategic pillars.

The mobile clinics will provide a comprehensive primary healthcare service, with a dedicated team consisting of a professional nurse, nursing assistant and a driver. Health services offered will include treatment of minor acute ailments, cholesterol, tuberculosis, diabetes and blood pressure screenings and immunisation for infants.

Montseng Tsiu, Free State Health MEC, said, “It is indeed through companies like De Beers Group, which is demonstrating its commitment to investing in the healthcare system, that we as a country shall further improve. The government cannot achieve its objective to maintain the general welfare of its citizens on its own. We need business to partner with us in order to enhance a healthy nation.”

De Beers Group has a long-standing relationship with the communities of Moqhaka and Ngwathe Municipalities. Through its Social and Labour Plan, Voorspoed Mine spent R5.5-million in supporting educational projects and healthcare services in 2018.

Training programmes in the Fezile Dabi District Municipality are equipping young people with skills

Young people in the area around the Voorspoed Mine have opportunities to train in relevant skills.

De Beers Voorspoed Mine has partnered with the Department of Labour and the National Youth Development Agency on a community development programme in the Fezile Dabi District to equip the young people in the area with skills in plumbing, welding and water treatment with the aim to strengthen their employability and boost economic development in the communities in which they reside.

Since the programme’s inception in 2017, 64 trainees have successfully completed the programme, 40 of which were females and 24 males. This year, the programme intake comprises 22 females out of a total of 28 participants.

In September 2019, Voorspoed Mine hosted 58 past and present trainees at an event aimed to uplift and encourage the youth to take the skills that they have acquired during the programme and put them to economic use.

Thabo Mofokeng and Hope Moleleki, who completed the programme in 2017, shared their experience with the group and how the programme has transformed their lives. Both expressed their immense gratitude towards De Beers Group. Thabo, who started an apprenticeship in 2019, encouraged the group to work hard and to never give up. Hope shared that on completion of her programme, she applied for a job in welding. However, since she was a woman, her skills were questioned. She then decided to start her own small business instead and is now running her own steel and wood business.

Upon listening to the trainees share their personal accounts of how De Beers Group has enriched their lives, an emotional Lungile Zimu, Voorspoed Mine Human Resource Business Partner, said, “I don’t cry easily, but this is what De Beers Group is all about, this is what excites me. Listening to these young people share how De Beers Group has changed their lives just affirms once again that I joined the right company.”

PJ Jordaan, Voorspoed Mine Closure Manager, stated, “We have been running these programmes for 10 years and although we closed the mine in December 2018, we still have a commitment to the community, and we will not walk away until we are done.”

dmg events wins distinction in Operations and Logistics award at industry ROAR Awards 2019

dmg events received a distinction in Operations and Logistics award for Africa’s Big 7 at the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) Roar Awards 2019.

dmg events, organisers of SAITEX, Africa’s Big 7 and The Hotel Show Africa received a distinction in Operations and Logistics award for Africa’s Big 7 at the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) Roar Awards 2019.

“dmg events strives for excellence, and we pride ourselves in delivering exceptional service to our exhibitors in the build-up to, during and after the exhibition. We are really pleased that our team has been acknowledged by receiving this award,” says Lynn Chamier, Event Director for Food, Hospitality and Trade in South Africa at dmg events.

Africa’s Big 7 food and beverage sector show, SAITEX, one of Africa’s largest and most well established trade exhibitions, and Hotel & Hospitality Show, formerly the Hotel Show Africa are co-located as part of Africa Trade Week.

Africa Trade Week takes place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 21 – 23 June 2020, attracting over 10,000 attendees from around the world each year.

Who will benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area?

The African Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCFTA) will bring together all 55 member states of the African Union. (Image source: African Business 2020)

Towards free trade

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will come into effect in July 2020. A single market of 1.3-billion people is expected to grow to 2.5-billion by 2050.

The AfCFTA aims to accelerate the growth of intra-African trade and to use trade as an engine of growth and sustainable development, which will strengthen Africa’s voice in global trade negotiations. The AfCFTA head office will be in Ghana.

Currently, trade between African nations is between 15% and 18% of total trade, as against 69% in Europe and 59% in Asia (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Brookings Institution). Tariffs on 90% of all goods are to be removed. The Boston Consulting Group notes that exports between African countries grew from $41-billion in 2007 to $65-billion by 2030 but this figure will rise exponentially if AfCFTA is implemented.

One prediction is that intra-regional trade could increase by 52.3% by 2022 (UN Economic Commission on Africa). The African Union (AU) believes trade will increase by 60%.

Just four countries currently account for 41.7% of intra-African trade, South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria and Zambia, according to the Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa (ECIC). The ECIC has invested in the African Export Import Bank in an effort to boost intra-continental trade to $250-billion in 2021. The South Africa-Africa Trade and Investment Promotion Programme has the same goal.

The passing of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in 2000 was a boon for 39 Sub-Saharan African countries because 6 500 products could be sold duty-free in the United States of America. The bill will expire in 2025 so it’s timely that Africa’s leaders are looking to stimulate growth in new ways. In the current political climate, it is unlikely that AGOA will be renewed. President Trump has declared himself strongly opposed to multi-lateral agreements. The AU will lobby for a continent-wide agreement, but the US is likely to seek bilateral deals.

Trading with the world

The United States is no longer number one when it comes to trading with Sub-Saharan Africa. China is first (about $150-billion in 2018), then the European Union (EU) with the US in third place ($41.2-billion).

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the US government’s development finance institution, has committed tens of millions of dollars to development projects in Africa, including the Connect Africa initiative.

The European Union Commission pledged to support the AfCTA with a €40-billion package that would attract investment and create jobs. The Africa-European Alliance for Jobs and Growth programme is intended to run from 2021 to 2027.

China’s multinational Belt and Road initiative includes a $1-billion African infrastructure fund and in 2018 aid to the value of $60-billion was delivered to the continent. The total value of Chinese investments and construction in Africa amounts to close to nearly $2-trillion since 2005 (American Enterprise Institute). McKinsey believes there are 10 000 Chinese businesses active in Africa.

All of this illustrates the importance of Africa to the world’s leading trading nations: it would suggest that a “race for Africa” is underway.

History and RECs

The roots of the AfCFTA can be traced back to the 1980 Lagos Plan of Action and a plan in 1991 to launch the African Economic Community. Neither of these were implemented but the goal remained alive.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) was established in 1992 and the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) came into being in 2008. The FTA covers 13 of the region’s 15 countries (Angola and the DRC have not signed) but only five countries are members of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa. The SACU was formed in 1910.

Some of Africa’s Regional Economic Communities (RECs) have gone some way to achieving integration. Larger countries within an individual REC have tended to become a centre for trading, using the relationships they have with fellow members. Kamal Nasrollah, Partner and Head of the law firm Baker McKenzie in Casablanca, has studied this phenomenon and believes that the AfCFTA could use the example of these RECs. He cites Ivory Coast, Kenya, Senegal and South Africa and gives some detail on the Moroccan experience.

Writes Nasrollah, “Morocco is also an active trade hub within the Union du Maghreb Arab (UMA) trade agreement as well as the various trade agreements it has entered into with the US, the EU and the Francophone Africa free-trade zone (UEMOA).”

Challenges

Although the AfCFTA has been signed, a range of complicated and detailed negotiations lie ahead. Topics include tariffs, service sector concessions and the exact outlines of rules of origin in each jurisdiction.

Visa restrictions for business travellers and financial systems that are not compatible are other potential hurdles.

In 2016 the Common Electronic Biometric African Passport was launched, and the AU produced a protocol on free movement of persons. Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa are among the countries that have not signed the protocol. The UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) found that progress has been slow with respect to mobility (African Regional Integration Index).

African visitors need a visa when visiting more than half of the nations on the continent and only Ghana and the Seychelles make visas available on arrival. According to The Economist, “…it’s easier for Americans to travel around Africa than it is for Africans themselves…” and the AU passport has so far only been used for heads of state and AU officials.

Concerns about security and the perception that “people from other African countries are taking our jobs” will have to be addressed at national and local levels. South Africa has experienced outbreaks of xenophobia. Migration patterns will likely change if movement around the continent becomes easier.

A lot of work needs to be done to synchronise financial governance policies and to put better technology in place so that payments can take place across jurisdictions. Debt and deficit policies must chime.

The African Development Bank is supporting regional financial integration with programmes focussed on banking and financial standards and the African Peer Review Mechanism. Regional payment systems are being developed in each of COMESA, EAC, ECCAS, and ECOWAS. Other projects of the bank are the Africa Financial Markets Initiative, Making Finance Work for Africa and the Association of African Central Banks.

Infrastructure development

Possibly the biggest hurdle to seamless trading is poor infrastructure, but a great many projects are underway in every corner of the continent.

Among the initiatives of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) is the West Africa Hub Port and Rail Programme, a regional hub-port, rail-linkage and port-expansion plan. Kenya’s $68-million Naivasha Dry Port project supports this plan.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has been active with multimodal projects such as the development corridors of Nacala, Maputo and Lobito (Zambia to Angola).

The Trans-Maghreb Highway in North Africa, the North-South Multimodal Corridor and the Central Corridor project are among other ambitious projects intended to provide inter-regional connectivity.

Who will benefit?

A recent research paper suggests that manufacturing will be one of the sectors to gain the most from the AfCFTA. According to “AfCFTA’s US$3-trillion Opportunity: Weighing Existing Barriers against Potential Economic Gains”, the dropping of tariffs between African countries will allow for the replacement of imported manufactured products, industrial machinery and transport equipment, which currently make up over 50% of Africa’s import basket.

The report, based on research done by international law firm Baker McKenzie and Oxford Economics, contrasts Africa’s export of raw material with this need to import manufactured goods. As a percentage of GDP, manufacturing averages 10% in Africa but the AfCFTA provides a chance for this to grow as markets open up. Improved infrastructure will further spur trade, and drive demand for more manufactured goods.

Countries which currently have strong manufacturing bases will benefit the most from the deal. Countries with less manufacturing like Algeria and Sudan will presumably move to diversify their economies and start building manufacturing capacity.

Another sector likely to benefit from the deal will be the services sector.

Countries with good infrastructure stand to benefit as efficient ports, airports and railway systems will be better equipped to deal with increased volumes of trade.

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Article first published as a Special Feature by John Young in the African Business 2020 edition – the guide to business and investment in Africa.
More about trade and investment in Africa (e-book):

Ted Blom: “More than 30% of SA mining projects could be terminated prematurely due to additional power costs”

Ted Blom addresses the media at last year’s African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa in Cape Town.

“More than 30% of South African mining projects will be terminated prematurely due to additional power costs if suitable solutions are not found within the next 12 months,” says Ted Blom, independent power and mining expert and commentator and a partner at Energy & Mining Advisors.

His comments follow Mineral Resource and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe’s announcement last week that the government had conceded that it must allow mining companies to produce energy for their own use. Ted Blom adds: “…most mining projects in Africa provide their own power for operations, but that just increases the hurdle rate for committed capital to develop and run the project. The big difference is that provision of own power is already factored into those projects whilst South African projects have NEVER factored in the costs of providing own power.”

Power or the lack of sufficient supply in the mining industry was a hot talking point at Mining Indaba in Cape Town last week. Ted Blom: “The whole South African mining and beneficiation sector was built on the back of cheap and abundant electricity availability. The current environment has changed drastically and most business (including miners and smelters) have NOT seen this coming. Only in the past two years has business started waking up to the new reality, but NONE have reviewed their business models to incorporate the new electricity reality.”

The full interview with Ted Blom can be viewed here.

Enormous leap forward

“Power at this year’s Mining Indaba undeniably took centre stage,” says Laura Cornish, editor of leading mining trade journal, Mining Review Africa: “…including the Minister’s declaration that mining companies in South Africa can move forward and do not need to go through any regulatory tape to produce their own power on site. Should this promise come to pass, it could see the mining sector take an enormous leap forward in garnering financial investment.”

“Allowing mining companies to essentially become power producers is fantastic,” agrees Nicolette Pombo-van Zyl, editor of the power publication, ESI Africa, adding: “…it could even lend itself to pushing South Africa’s energy mix ratio to be more inclusive of renewables and eventually tip toward a decentralised market model. However, let’s take a step back. It isn’t the core business of mining and manufacturing to be power producers. Their investment into power plants will ultimately be primarily for own-consumption, with a questionable impact on supply to the national grid. However, I’d like to speculate that once regulation is signed into law, the spin-off business opportunities will be reflective of an energy transition.”

City of Cape Town’s case

Kadri Nassiep, the Executive Director of Energy at the City of Cape Town says, “The City’s court case in which it seeks clarity with respect to the role of municipalities in the purchase of electricity from sources other than just Eskom is a ground-breaking issue and potentially an exciting one for the sector as a whole. If the courts rule in favour of the City it will trigger a public tender process to bring additional generation on stream, mostly from independent sources. This will open the door for other municipalities to follow suit and in the process, relieve some of the burden imposed on Eskom by the current legislative and regulatory framework.” The hearing is scheduled for May this year.

Kadrie Nassiep’s full interview can be viewed here.

Load-shedding to continue

A recent report by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)’s Energy Centre, analysing South Africa’s load-shedding, indicated that it cost the country’s economy between R60-billion and R120-billion in 2019 alone.

The total economic impact of load-shedding in South Africa could be as high as R338-billion over the past 10 years, according to the report titled Setting up for the 2020s: Addressing South Africa’s electricity crisis and getting ready for the next decade. The CSIR warned that load-shedding was expected to continue for the next two to three years as the country will sit with a supply gap until 2022.

Read more here.

Commercial & Industrial sectors

At the upcoming African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa in Cape Town from 12-14 May, the power and energy challenges in and success stories of the Commercial & Industrial sectors on the continent will be unpacked.

Dedicated session topics will include:
  • Harnessing the power of self-generation in the Commercial & Industrial sector
  • Small Scale embedded Generation for the Commercial & Industrial sector
  • Productive Use of Power as critical to mini-grid development and sustainability
  • Funding for effective mini-grid project rollout and scale up
  • The A-Z of successful deployment of hybrid technology mini-grids
  • Batteries for your renewable energy system: factors to consider

District based round table discussions launched at Western Cape Smart Procurement World conference

Delegates at the 7th annual Smart Procurement World Western Cape event can look forward to being privy to a new district-based service delivery model announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The model aims to break down the silos between the different spheres of government and to improve service delivery. The initiative, which is aligned with the Western Cape Economic Procurement Policy, provides the impetus for the launch of the District Based Round Table Discussions at the event.

Procurement professionals from the public and private sectors as well as other relevant stakeholders in the region have been invited to participate in the facilitated round table discussions on district-related projects. “The idea is to agree on shared collaborative projects between government and private business which could drive local economic development and a focused procurement strategy. Thereafter we will present the findings from each table discussion to the entire audience for further insight into projects in other Metros,” says Keshni Reddy, Head of Commercial for Smart Procurement, the organisers of the event.

“We encourage representatives from the following regions to participate: City of Cape Town, Overberg District; West Coast District; Central Karoo District and the Cape Winelands District,” says Reddy.

Should you wish to book a seat please contact our programme manager at pearl@smartprocurement.net or visit www.smartprocurementworld.com for more information.

“The City of Cape Town has been a sponsor of the Western Cape Smart Procurement initiative since 2014. The integrated business model is strategically aligned with the City’s transformation and economic development plans. The procurement model also promotes access to market and training for SMMEs, while providing them with a platform to showcase their products and services. The programme promotes growth and stimulates the environment to improve job creating opportunities,” says Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, Alderman James Vos.

“As a City, we are focused on creating an enabling environment for supplier development. I am driven by the overarching objective to make my portfolio the ‘Growth Directorate’ of the City. This means that we focus our energy on attracting investment which creates jobs and leads to economic growth,” adds Vos.

Being held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 18 to 20 May 2020, and organised in collaboration with the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Provincial Government, the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) and the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), the conference is characterised by a roundup of thought-provoking discussions.

“We have lined up a number of topics that are geared around provoking animated discussion and encouraging delegates to step outside the box. Examples include Shifting the dial in procurement: From an enabler of cost reduction to a creator of sustainable economic development by Rob Van den Wijngaard – Director FSSC, Universiteit Leiden, Netherlands, Programme Manager SSC, University of Cape Town; and Fixing the future of procurement – Bringing fresh ideas to an established function by Andy Potter – Business Development Director, EMEA, Ansarada,” says Pearl Marsh, Conference Manager for Smart Procurement, the organisers of the event.

The co-located Enterprise & Supplier Development (ESD) Expo will once again provide the SMME exhibitors with an opportunity to meet and collaborate with a number of corporate enterprises.

For more information on the upcoming series of Smart Procurement World events for 2020 please visit the website at: www.smartprocurementworld.com

Free State ESD Expo helps SMMEs grow and professionalise their operations

Thabang Matsoso, owner of Peaceman Motors

The 1st Annual Smart Procurement World Conference and Enterprise & Supplier Development (ESD) Expo, held in 2019, provided a launchpad for local start-up and SMME businesses to professionalise their operations.

Debbie Tagg, COO of Smart Procurement (the organisers of the event), says that the 2020 event, which will be held from 24 to 26 February this year at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, provides SMMEs with valuable information as well as the opportunity to meet with large corporations in their quest to become part of the formalised supply chain.

Official host partner for the event – the Free State Department of Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) – believes that the ESD Expo is a valuable tool for formal and informal SMMEs to take their businesses to the next developmental level.

“One of DESTEA’s key mandates is to provide enterprises with financial support in terms of funding and equipment, as well as in training and other softer skills, like mentoring. One of the challenges for these SMMEs is access to markets and while we can assist with funding and other support, we often don’t have enough available resources to provide the customer leads they are looking for. The Smart Procurement World Enterprise & Supplier Development Expo allows the ‘buyers’ from the public and private sector to meet the SMME sellers in a highly interactive environment,” says Mphoko Matsie, Director: Regulatory and Stakeholder Management at DESTEA.

“While DESTEA’s main focus is to assist SMMEs, the event’s two-pronged nature means that we are also providing a critical link between corporates and SMMEs to develop the supply chain in a positive and mutually-beneficial manner. In addition, the conference and workshopping elements of the event also provide the SMMEs with valuable information on how to develop and maintain the supply chain connection,” Matsie adds.

Peaceman Motors – hosted by DESTEA – is a classic example of how the ESD Expo can drive the evolution of informal SMMEs into formal SMME status. “The 2019 ESD Expo was a great opportunity for Peaceman Motors to reassess and develop its operations. As a result of the information we gathered from the workshop and conference sessions we have taken critical steps in moving our business to the next developmental level. We have finalised our website and now have a tangible presence in the market,” says Thabang Matsoso, owner of Peaceman Motors (above).

“Up and coming SMMEs should formalise their businesses by registering the business, and by developing a business plan to help them to see where they want their business to go. Dream big and go big,” Matsoso advises.

Matsie points out that the inaugural ESD Expo highlighted the fact that engaging with corporates and public sector departments is a very real and evident struggle for SMMEs. “DESTEA will be assisting these companies through the development of a public procurement framework that identifies the common commodities procured throughout the province and from where they originate. Research to date indicates that many of the commodities are in fact secured from outside the Free State and we would therefore like to look at focusing on creating BEE-driven SMMEs that can develop and supply these commodities from within the province.”

For more information on the upcoming series of Smart Procurement World events for 2020, please visit the website at: www.smartprocurementworld.com

 

Travel & Tourism Media Insight Forum – a journey into navigating media partnerships

Hosted on Day 1 of World Travel Market Africa, the Travel and Tourism Media Insight Forum, sponsored by National Geographic, will bring together key decision-makers from destinations (both global and regional), media players, public relations agencies and influential thinkers.

Expert panel discussions will provide a crucial insight into the grey area that currently defines media and destination relationships. Quantifiable value can further be derived after the session with scheduled one-on-one meetings – where media can prepare and personalise opportunities based on pre-posed questions by destinations.

A new decade for travel and tourism will bring trends that will impact how destinations market themselves and how media will contribute to these transitions. How destinations respond to these trends is crucial and the part media will play for a far wider reaching role in the changing narrative.

Megan Oberholzer, Portfolio Director: Travel, Tourism & Sports Portfolio for Reed Exhibitions South Africa says that the relationship between tourism and the media is both vital and complex. “WTM Africa is excited to offer a platform where such important and valuable information can be shared and discussed to better appreciate, educate and understand the way forward in this everchanging environment,” she says.

Branding will be driven by contradictory influences – it may be more targeted but it will reach larger key target audiences. The world of media is also becoming more multifaceted, offering not just the traditional advertising platforms but a variety of other mediums which destinations can utilise in their marketing strategies. Two elements will define this new decade – technology and relationships.

Technology is the engine driving existing media and new players such as global influencers, social media networks and niche media channels are offering new ways to promote a destination. Traditional mediums are also affected by technology, with live streaming, real-time and embedded reporting and more infotainment options that are both interactive and targeted. Yet despite the drive of technology, the platform between media and destinations will be defined on the basis of relationships and not just the commercially driven opportunities.

New to WTM Africa, is the African Tourism Investment Summit in partnership with Africa Business Group, which will host keynote speakers who will share their experience.

The value of content and the constant requirement for up-to-date information will lead media to reach out to destinations more. In turn – driven by storytelling – destinations will look to reach new and existing audiences, who are more accessible, with increasing tourism products and the cost of travel decreasing. A destination, especially when faced with budgetary restraints, rebranding exercises and perhaps most importantly how to navigate and respond to a crisis, will look towards media as a “co-conspirator”. Even in their darkest hour, recovery from crisis can be accelerated or hampered depending on the relationships built with the media.

Destination management organisations and government supported tourism authorities have also had an unfortunate history of having an inconsistent relationship with the media. There can be a misunderstanding of what a media offering entails – the potential return on investment and the costs involved are understood while the biggest issue is the expectation that media should provide obligatory good news coverage, especially at times when destinations are facing challenges to their brand image.

Here is where there exists a knowledge gap between destinations and the media. This problem of misconceptions and unrealistic expectations has led to the under-utilisation of one of the most tried and tested models of destination marketing – national brand awareness and crisis recovery. From a destination perspective there is a need for better understanding of current trends and assisted decision making, especially when faced with budgetary restraints, complex and technologically driven rebranding exercises and, perhaps most importantly, how to navigate and respond to a crisis that will impact destination tourism. An opportunity lies within better, transparent partnerships and the understanding of the intrinsic value and role of the media relationship – not only during times of need but as a continuous partnership that benefits both sides while retaining credibility for both.

Visit the website for more information on the Travel and Tourism Media Insight Forum taking place at WTM Africa at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 6-8 April 2020.

 

Africa Energy Indaba 2020 reinstates matchmaking programme to connect energy stakeholders

The Africa Energy Indaba has established itself as Africa’s leading and most promising energy event. Founded in 2009, the event has experienced a progressive evolution in presenting pivotal opportunities to participants to forge lasting corporate relationships, curate professional networks, explore new prospects and empower industry stakeholders to introduce innovative ideas within the energy sector. Analysing feedback compiled from former events has empowered this year’s conference to deliver enhanced sectoral insights and deliver even greater value to conference attendees.

The Africa Energy Indaba draws government officials, CEOs of private ventures, and high-level executives from across the continent, providing the rare opportunity to expand their business network within the industry. Moreover, participants comprise of distinguished stakeholders such as energy industry producers, government officers, high-end consumers, investors, industry experts and project developers, among others.As the continent’s most influential energy industry event, attendees are privy to the most exclusive industry content and experts.

The Africa Energy Indaba 2020 is proud to reinstate its MarketPlace Business Matchmaking Programme which provides exhibitors and delegates the unique opportunity to engage with prominent event guests, speakers, sponsors, investors and other attendees that they would otherwise not be able to meet personally.

The programme is powered by intelligent software that extracts stakeholder profiles, backgrounds, and business objectives in an endeavor to establish pre-scheduled meetings with relevant persons at the event. Participants will additionally receive invitations through the software, thereby revolutionising the way energy stakeholders conduct business using this innovative digital Matchmaking Platform.

Learn more here: https://www.africaenergyindaba.com/business-matchmaking-programme/ 

The conference will provide energy industry stakeholders with the necessary support to execute progressive and innovative projects and businesses. Representing an effective platform to host honest and thought-provoking discussions with relevant partners, the event assembles key stakeholders who have potential to collaborate with the intention to fuel growth and alleviate regulatory risks that may place projects and businesses at a disadvantage. From light refreshment recesses and upbeat cocktail receptions, to the vibrant company of like-minded industry aficionados on the exhibition floor, the symposium is bound to deliver considerable scope in connecting with the appropriate individuals to share not only knowledge and ideas, but industry best practices.

The conference will be center stage for energy industry leaders, dignitaries, entrepreneurs, businessmen, government heads, professional experts and investors to explore and identify core challenges and propose feasible long-term solutions to stay competitive with global energy ventures. Owing to the critical importance of this year’s agenda, the Africa Energy Indaba 2020 will deliver key insights and ample opportunities to stakeholders of the continent’s energy realm, thereby playing a crucial role in fortifying Africa’s economy.

Learn more: https://www.africaenergyindaba.com/

Innovation, skills and learning at Machine Tools Africa 2020

Based on the success of Machine Tools Africa 2017, innovative machine tools will again be in the spotlight in 2020 profiling latest technologies that will affect the shape of things to come. It happens only once every three years and provides a unique opportunity to stay ahead of your game.

As the biggest trade exhibition of its kind in Africa, Machine Tools Africa is all about innovation with its focus on additive manufacturing, automation and control, CNC machinery, cutting tools, machines, robotics, and more. Taking place from 12 to 15 May at the Expo Centre in Johannesburg, it’s a showcase of everything that twists, turns, rotates, cuts, forms, bends or shapes.

Reflective of the South African machine tools market, the exhibition has been designed in partnership with the Machine Tools Merchants’ Association of South Africa (MTMA), and has their full commitment and endorsement.

Although the local machine tools industry has been experiencing tough trading conditions, there is an understanding of the value of exhibiting and the importance of an industry showcase of this nature. Support from industry has been positive with 92% of floor space already sold.

As a value-add for visitors, the Seminar Theatre, hosted by the South African Institution of Mechanical Engineering (SAIMechE), will see top industry experts presenting topics covering latest innovation, industry trends and future technologies. These seminars are free to attend.

Machine Tools Africa 2017 was a great success. A stand-alone show for the first time in 20 years, the feedback received from exhibitors was extremely positive. The show attracted a high quality audience with thousands of visitors attending over the four days. Hundreds of sales leads were generated, major sales were made from the stands and existing customers had the opportunity to see live demonstrations on machinery and equipment brought in exclusively for the show.

Another visitor attraction will be the ATI Skills Zone, where the future of skills development will be in the spotlight. Developed in partnership with the Artisans Training Institute (ATI), this area will be a fully functional workshop where learners will demonstrate trade skills learned at ATI including electrical, instrumentation, welding, and fitting and turning, amongst others.

The South African Capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC), representing the capital equipment and project sector both for new projects and for the aftermarket, has partnered with Machine Tools Africa and will be supporting the ‘new products and technologies’ walk-way with its demarcated stands.

Also committed to the show is the South African Institute of Welding (SAIW), a non-profit technical organisation dedicated to furthering standards in welding-fabrication and related technologies.

“We’re heartened by the response we’ve had to Machine Tools Africa 2020,” says Gary Corin, Managing Director of Specialised Exhibitions, the organisers of the show. “We’re mindful of the current economic trading conditions and so it is very encouraging that we’ve had such a positive response from exhibitors.”

“We’re also delighted to work alongside the Machine Tools Merchants’ Association of South Africa again this year and to have the support and endorsement of the South African Institution of Mechanical Engineering, the South African Capital Equipment Export Council and the South African Institute of Welding. This support will bring further value to the exhibition experience,” says Corin.

“High performance machine tools touch every aspect of our lives. We’re looking forward to Machine Tools Africa 2020 and seeing the very latest in global machine tools technology,” Corin concludes.

For more information about Machine Tools Africa 2020, visit the website:
www.machinetoolsafrica.co.za or contact the organisers.

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