Targeting manufacturing growth

Gauteng’s City of Ekurhuleni has adopted a revitalisation strategy to support the growth of manufacturing in the province, executive mayor of the municipality, Mondli Gungubele, told delegates at the opening of a two-day Manufacturing Indaba Conference and Exhibition on Monday. He said the strategy would include the launch of the Ekurhuleni Business Council (EBC) this week, providing a platform for partnerships between the public and private sectors to advance the municipality’s development goals. “Public and private sector partnerships are the key to addressing the challenges faced by the manufacturing sector,” said Gungubele. Manufacturing Circle chairman, Bruce Strong, commented that “cheap imports” were one of the major challenges to the industry but agreed that government and private sector collaboration would address this. Manufacturing currently contributes 12% to South Africa’s gross domestic product and employs about 1.6 million people, he added. CAPTION Mondli Gungubele