Skills dearth threatens competitiveness of SA project sector

The South African freight forwarding industry will have to urgently address the lack of skills if it wants to reap the benefits of the hundreds of projects under way across the continent. According to Kintetsu World Express managing director Arend du Preez, there is much opportunity across Africa in the project sector, but the lack of skills is challenging. “We need to address our lack of skills urgently. Not just in the project cargo sector but across freight forwarding,” he said. “There is no short-term solution to this problem but as an industry we need to come together and address it sooner rather than later.” He said when it came to the projects arena, skills remained critical. “And we are talking about sophisticated skills that are needed. Without skills one can’t gain experience and without experience there is no way we are going to reap the benefits of the various projects under way on the continent.” Also with a severe lack of skill in the industry one is now looking at situations where those who are qualified are demanding higher and higher salaries which in turn puts margins under threat. “It really is a ripple effect and finally leads to people reconsidering cargo projects because of the logistics costs spiralling out of control.” Du Preez said it was time for the industry to work on a plan, and even consider a freight forwarding school like those in the legal and commercial fraternities. “Project cargo volumes are growing – and while it is extremely difficult to put a figure to it one only has to look at the amount of activity at the Port of Richards Bay to know that the volumes have increased significantly compared to a year ago.” With the entire world wanting a piece of Africa, projects are not set to slow down in the years to come. “It is a sector we are extremely optimistic about,” said Du Preez.