NMBBC

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber notes with extreme concern that revised transport tariffs have been implemented into the prices for petrol, diesel and paraffin price structures for the metro and surrounding areas as from today. This results in the area being unfairly subjected to new pricing tariffs where consumers and businesses will pay more for their fuel than what they should normally have been subjected to as part of a coastal region, says Chamber chief executive Denise van Huyssteen.

She says the accountability for the additional costs incurred for trucking fuel into the area after a berth at the Port Elizabeth Port was damaged in June, is unfairly being passed on to consumers and businesses in the Nelson Mandela Bay area. 

“In practical terms on the price of 95 unleaded fuel, this means that consumers in the Bay received a 83 cents reduction instead of 114 cents, while those in Kariega were penalised even more with a 50 cents reduction and the Kirkwood area with a 45 cents reduction. In terms of diesel, the Bay received a 73 cents reduction, Kariega a 50 cents reduction and the Kirkwood area got a 45 cents reduction,” Van Huyssteen says.

It is important to note that on LPG gas the Bay received a 250 cents increase, Kariega got a 162 cents increase and Kirkwood a 149 cents increase.

“This unilateral and unjust decision does not take into account the fact that Nelson Mandela Bay is in recession and has among the highest unemployment rates in the country. Equally worrying, the accountability for the issue has simply been transferred to consumers and businesses who are already reeling from the consequences of the recent massive electricity price increases and other factors affecting the cost of living and the costs associated with operating businesses,” she says. 

“While we understand that this pricing structure is of a temporary nature, and that once the berth is fixed the area will return back to its former allotted zone, this decision will still have a permanent effect and may potentially impact upon future fuel pricing adjustments.

“We are currently reviewing the matter and once we have a full understanding of the implications, we will consider the various options to determine our next steps in opposing this harsh and unfair decision.”

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The need for the metro to have a coordinated disaster management strategy to mitigate risks that could impact businesses and residents took centre stage yesterday when Gift of the Givers founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman delivered a talk on best practices for disaster management and the work needed for Nelson Mandela Bay to be disaster ready.

The meeting was organised by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber as part of a multi-stakeholder consultative exercise comprising senior municipal officials, business representatives and Chamber task team and cluster members, which is anticipated to culminate in the establishment of the Chamber’s Risk Management Desk.

Dr Sooliman highlighted the critical importance of coordination in disaster management. He emphasised that delays and accountability issues often stem from fragmented efforts across different spheres. “A centralised system, where a single entity coordinates all relevant stakeholders and resources, is essential for an effective response. Response teams must be on site within two hours of a disaster to quickly assess the situation and ensure safety of affected communities,” he said.
He further elaborated that it was important for all relevant stakeholders, including affected communities, to work as a unit to expedite things.

He also stressed the value of community involvement, noting that disaster management should be a collaborative effort involving all stakeholders, including affected communities. “Community participation is crucial for a collective approach, where everyone contributes to the solution.

Disaster teams should lead with empathy and respect,” Sooliman remarked.

Acting City Manager Mandla George concurred, underscoring the importance of collaboration between municipal authorities and businesses to address challenges and enhance the city’s disaster preparedness. George acknowledged the ongoing resource constraints faced by the municipality and welcomed the support from the business community.

George said “As the city we do not take lightly the role that business plays in addressing some of the challenges engulfing our metro. It is for this reason that we continue to find ways of working in collaboration to address identified challenges to make this city better. Lack of resources is a continuous challenge for the municipality and as such, the support we receive from the business community is always welcomed and highly appreciated.”

Chamber chief executive Denise van Huyssteen outlined several pressing issues facing the metro, including the absence of a disaster plan since 2010, inadequately secured infrastructure, poorly maintained drains, lack of maintenance of dolosse and unaddressed alien vegetation.

“If you look at all these areas we have highlighted, this shows that there is a growing need for both reactive and proactive action to be taken. This is why we recently started the process of formulating a Disaster Management Task Team and are also aiming to establish a Risk Management Desk. We are therefore making a clarion call to our stakeholders and members to collaborate with us in playing an active part in driving solutions which will mitigate the various disaster management risks,” says Van Huyssteen.

Residents at old age homes were spared from a potentially dire situation due to swift action by the Chamber’s disaster response team following a major power outage caused by gale-force winds. On August 23, 2024, four high-voltage pylons, compromised by severe rust, toppled over, leaving 14 suburbs, including key points such as Cheshire Homes and Kinghurst Retirement Apartments, without power.

Both homes, which rely heavily on electricity for essential services like charging electric wheelchairs, phones, and medical alert systems, were at significant risk. However, the intervention of local business leaders played a crucial role in mitigating the impact. Angus Clark, a plant engineer from Isuzu South Africa, and Christiaan Theron, the South African operations executive at Aspen Pharmaceutical, stepped in to help by installing generators at both Cheshire Homes and Kinghurst Retirement Apartments.

“We continue to be amazed by the incredible way our members are stepping up and volunteering to assist whenever there is a crisis. This is a testament to the commitment of our local business community in being part of the solution to drive positive change in Nelson Mandela Bay,” says Chamber Chief Executive Denise van Huyssteen. 

“Both Angus and Christiaan, have gone beyond the call of duty to ensure that the elderly, who are among the most vulnerable in our commmunity, are able to continue to get oxygen supply, usage of electronic wheel chairs and other critical support. In addition to this, on an ongoing basis they both serve on our Electricity Task Team and are actively involved in collaboration efforts with the Municipality and other stakeholders to drive for the stability and reliability of electricity supply.” 

Clark said the Chamber got involved after reaching out to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to offer its assistance immediately after the pylons collapsed.

“The following day, we then received feedback from the director of electrical distribution dealing with the power outage to extend our support to the two old age homes. From there, the wheels were set in motion and we received positive feedback from various companies who immediately offered their assistance,” says Clark.

Isuzu Motors South Africa hired a 450KVA generator and cabling, and was installed at Cheshire Homes and switched on after completion. After being briefed about where the generator would be installed, Power Co discounted the price for hire, allowing the team to move swiftly with the installation and commissioning. Northfield Engineering sponsored the rigging, crane truck and transportation to both sites.

Another company which offered its support was Auto X who came on board and arranged for diesel supply for both generators until the power outage has been resolved. Clark helped with installing the generator at Cheshire Homes, while Theron oversaw the installation and commissioning of a 700KVA emergency generator, which was sponsored by Himonsa SA, at Kinghurst Retirement Apartments.

“We installed and commissioned the emergency generator on the 25 th of August. It was up and running at 8pm supplying the apartments in the apartment block. The general lighting and the lift were attended to by the apartment block’s service provider on Monday. Auto-X will continue to top up the diesel until the power outage has been resolved,” says Theron.

Eskom’s Eastern Cape team has been on site installing new monopoles and post insulators needed to restore the line.

The municipality has also intensified its efforts, extending working hours and operating overnight to meet the revised restoration deadline.

The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has seconded one of its employees to the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s Trade and Investment Desk, a move aimed at fostering better integration between the two organisations and enhancing their collective efforts in trade and investment promotion and facilitation. By working closely together, the ECDC and the Chamber aim to strengthen their initiatives and create more opportunities for economic growth and development in the Eastern Cape.

The ECDC is a strategic partner of the Chamber and has provided support to various enterprise and export development initiatives, strengthening the position of Eastern Cape based businesses for the national and global market.

Ayanda Wakaba, ECDC’s chief executive officer, stated, “The ECDC welcomes this partnership with the Chamber and is pleased to co-locate one of our officials responsible for trade and investment promotion.

This integration aims to align the Chamber’s efforts with those of the ECDC and the Metro in relation to trade and investment promotion and facilitation in the region. Dineo Seeme the ECDC’s Export Helpdesk Coordinator will work closely with the Chamber staff and its relevant structures to ensure synergies between the two entities by leveraging their expertise.”

As such, the integration of these two entities signifies the strategic importance of the newly launched Trade and Investment Desk and its impact to the province’s economic development and growth. Commenting on the partnership, Chamber chief executive officer Denise Huyssteen says that the strengthened collaboration between the Chamber and the ECDC is a significant step towards achieving the entities’ shared vision of economic development and growth for the Eastern Cape.

“The secondment of an additional resource by the ECDC provides an opportunity for both parties to combine their resources and expertise to enhance our capacity to support local businesses and attract new investments to Nelson Mandela Bay, with knock-on benefits for the region. This strategic partnership will further enable us to offer more comprehensive support to businesses, streamline our efforts in trade and investment promotion, and ultimately drive sustainable economic development. We are confident that this integration will bring about a positive impact, fostering an environment where businesses can thrive and contribute to the prosperity of our city and province.”

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber is thrilled to announce that seasoned Financial Services Executive and former Miss South Africa, Peggy-Sue Khumalo, will be headlining this year’s Annual Ladies Breakfast event taking place at the Running Waters Wedding and Conference Centre on August 30, 2024.

The Ladies Breakfast is one of the Chamber’s most popular annual events, celebrating the achievements of businesswomen in the Nelson Mandela Bay area. Each year, a guest speaker is invited to share insights and experiences to inspire and empower attendees.

Khumalo’s impressive career began when she was crowned the third black woman to win Miss South Africa in 1996. She holds a BA honours degree in economics, and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Manchester. Her investment banking career began with Investec, following a scholarship offered by the late former President Nelson Mandela in collaboration with retired Investec CEO Stephen Koseff.

She started her career as a Fixed Income Analyst at Investec in the United Kingdom and later returned to South Africa to join Investec corporate and institutional banking. Her leadership roles expanded as she was appointed to the general management forum exco for Investec Bank Limited in 2010, and subsequently became the head of public sector and BEE financing for the group.

In 2019, Khumalo was appointed as chief executive officer of wealth business at Standard Bank South Africa, overseeing short and long-term insurance, asset management, wealth management, pension fund operations, and fiduciary services. She currently serves as the Head of Public Sector Stakeholder Engagement for Investec.

Beyond her accomplishments in banking, she is the proud mother of two daughters. She was selected as an honorary member of the Wits International Golden Keys Society in 2011 and actively supports several charities, including Little Eden and Teddy Bear Foundation. She is passionate and active in mentorship programmes.

At the event, Khumalo will be in conversation with Chamber Chief Executive Denise van Huyssteen, discussing her early days as Miss South Africa and her transition into a respected figure in the banking industry.

Van Huyssteen expressed her excitement, stating, “The Chamber is privileged to have a guest speaker of Peggy-Sue’s calibre. She brings a wealth of knowledge and institutional experience from the banking industry both locally and abroad. We look forward to learning about her journey and the key insights she will share with local businesswomen.”

Capable female leaders are gradually emerging in previously male dominated sectors in Nelson Mandela Bay, reaffirming the powerful strides women have made over the decades in re-engineering South Africa’s economic landscape.

As the country commemorates National Women’s Day today (09 August 2024), these advancements highlight the significant progress women have achieved and continue to drive to transcend gender inequalities that have long held them back in taking up spaces in key leadership roles.

On August 9, 1956, more than 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, protesting against the extension of Pass Laws to women. This act of defiance not only highlighted the oppressive apartheid regime but also set in motion a broader movement for gender equality and women's rights.

Every year, South Africa celebrates National Women’s Day to honour those brave women and reflect on the progress made in gender equality. This month long observance also allows the nation to evaluate the ongoing efforts to transform society through addressing and dismantling systemic issues such as gender oppression, patriarchy, sexism and structural inequalities. It also aims to create an environment where women can fully control their lives and destinies socially, politically and economically.

This year’s theme, “Celebrating 30 years of democracy Towards Women’s Development,” is particularly significant as it underscores the critical role that democracy has played in advancing women’s rights and development.

“Over the past three decades, women have increasingly taken on leadership roles in various sectors, including politics, business and civil society, contributing to reshaping the economic and social landscape of the country,” says Denise van Huyssteen, chief executive of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber.

She adds that the theme also serves as a call to action to continue the work of transforming unequal power relations between men and women. Despite the progress, challenges such as gender-based violence, economic inequality and limited access to education and healthcare for women persist.

“As such, the activities throughout August provide an opportunity for South Africa to recommit to addressing these issues and to celebrate the resilience, strength, and achievements of women who have played a crucial role in the nation’s development,” says Van Huyssteen.

With Nelson Mandela Bay being a major hub for the manufacturing and automotive sectors, some of the city’s anchor businesses have made significant strides in appointing fit-for-purpose female leaders in their management teams.

For instance, Volkswagen Group Africa is led by Martina Biene, the first female to occupy the Managing Director and Chairperson roles in the local company’s history. She has been at the helm since 2022 and has 20 years of experience in the VW Group, having worked in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and South Africa.

Another formidable force in the manufacturing space is Nomfundo Faltein, the Managing Director of Orion Engineered Carbons, a global specialty chemicals company that manufactures carbon black – a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets which serves as an essential material in everyday products.

Faltein has over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, having worked in all disciplines of Quality Management in manufacturing environments. She joined Orion Engineered Carbons in 2017 as Quality Manager and in 2022, was promoted to her current leadership role.

Borbet SA, one of the world's leading manufacturers of light alloy wheels, appointed Nontlanga Mokoena as Deputy Managing Director in 2021, making her the first African female to sit on the company’s Board of Directors. She joined the company in 2012 as an Assistant Quality Manager and in 2014, was appointed to Quality Manager.

Lisa McDermott, the General Manager at AXALTA PLASCON, is a Chartered Accountant who has occupied key leadership roles in various businesses within manufacturing. She has a robust skill set that includes finance, executive management, team management, mergers and acquisitions, business strategy, and more.

Leading chicken manufacturing company Sovereign’s human resources division is managed by Thuto Maepa, the company’s Group Executive. She has been with Sovereign since 2011 and previously held senior roles in several companies, including Standard Bank.

Another female who occupies a senior leadership position is Pravika Chetty, who was appointed in the position of Finance Director at Lumotech in 2023, a large automotive components manufacturer. An experienced Chartered Accountant, she is the first female director to be appointed at Lumotech and has been with the company since 2019 and has previously held senior roles in other companies, including KPMG.

As a catalyst for economic development in the Metro, the Chamber operates the Entrepreneurship Desk, which currently has 292 businesses registered with it, of which 54% are female-owned and almost 70% are black owned.

Sponsored by Borbet SA and Standard Bank, the Desk acts as a single platform where business support, growth and sustainability initiatives are housed. These are achieved through four pillars namely access to funding and professional banking advice, access to entrepreneurial and business skills development, access to one-on-one advisory support, and market access opportunities.

Van Huyssteen concludes: “As South Africa marks this significant occasion, it is essential to recognise and support the ongoing efforts towards achieving true gender equality. This involves not only celebrating the milestones but also addressing the remaining challenges to ensure that all women have the opportunity to thrive and contribute to the country's growth and prosperity.”

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s Entrepreneurship Desk has shown significant growth since its inception just over two years ago, reaching the milestone of 300 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises registered with it.  

“This growth reflects the Desk’s effectiveness in fostering entrepreneurship development and supporting local MSMEs, playing a pivotal role in driving the sustainability of these businesses which ultimately will help stimulate economic activity and job creation in the Bay,” says Denise van Huyssteen, Chamber’s chief executive officer.

“It is pleasing to note that the Desk is now supporting 300 businesses, of which 54% are female owned and almost 70% black owned, and collectively employ over 2000 employees. This diversity underscores the Chamber’s commitment of continuing to drive sustainable, inclusive economic development.”

As a catalyst for enabling the sustainability and growth of the entrepreneurship sector in the Metro, the Chamber’s Entrepreneurship Desk, which is supported by its partners Borbet SA, MTN and Standard Bank, acts as a single platform where business support, growth and sustainability initiatives are housed.  This is achieved through four pillars namely access to funding and professional banking advice, entrepreneurial and business skills development, one on one advisory support, and market access opportunities.

Van Huyssteen says through these comprehensive mechanisms, the Entrepreneurship Desk has become a key cog in fostering a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Some of the Desk’s key interventions include the introduction of the Entrepreneurship Desk Accelerator programme that is designed to strengthen sustainable and competitive MSMEs through identification of financial, management, leadership and compliance gaps and risks, business needs analysis, and positions the MSMEs to be funding ready. The Desk further supports MSMEs with branding and marketing collateral critical for expansion of their market reach; assists MSMEs with expert coaching and mentorship, facilitation of funding, business to business linkages and access to market opportunities.

The Desk has further placed an additional 17 interns with 10 MSMEs registered with it, taking the total number of interns placed in 2024 to 38. Currently, the Desk is in the process of placing an additional 30, taking the 2024 total to 68. This is part of the Chamber’s MSME empowerment strategic priority, while creating job opportunities for unemployed graduates.

“We are grateful to our anchor partner Standard Bank, alongside Borbet SA, and MTN who enable us to have the aforementioned impact, rallying behind our Entrepreneurship Desk interventions,” she concludes.

Standard Bank Eastern Cape’s head of enterprise banking Jonty Bouw says the growth is a confirmation that the collaboration between the Chamber and Standard Bank is starting to yield results in the MSME space.

“The growth is evidence of the confidence MSMEs have in the work being done by the Chamber to support their businesses. There is certainly value-add in the various initiatives and events being run to assist MSME’s in their entrepreneurial journey. This was further confirmed with the successful launch of the Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme earlier this year and the second iteration of the programme to commence at the end of August 2024. Standard Bank is therefore proud to be part of the growth which ultimately contributes to job creation and instilling confidence in the Bay of Opportunity vision.”

Over 400 people joined hands with the Nelson Mandela Bay Chamber’s geographic clusters in North End and Perseverance where eight skips and five bakkie loads of garbage were collected in the respective areas as part of Nelson Mandela International Day activities. 

A total of 18 businesses brought their staff members who were later joined by members of the public, who
volunteered with collecting garbage where a variety of items was removed. This included car tyres and bumpers, shopping plastics and trollies, paper and other items that were found in the targeted areas.

At North End, more than 200 staff members from businesses around the area participated in cleaning up the North End Lake where two skips and five bakkie loads of garbage were collected. “The lake serves as an important aesthetic site for the North End area, as well as a recreational asset for the Bay for fishing and sporting activities,” says Denise van Huyssteen, Chamber Chief Executive.

“During the clean-up, the teams also removed car tyres and other heavy items which were plunged into the water, confirming the extent of illegal dumping in the area. Illegal dumping remains a huge challenge across the metro, as garbage is regularly dumped in open spaces, some of which is close to residential and business areas.” 

“It was fantastic to see the way the business community has collaborated among each other in support of Mandela Day. This highlights the growing levels of volunteerism among business people across the Bay, who are committed to resurging the Bay so that its true potential can be unlocked. Positive change starts with each one of us taking action.”  

The businesses in North End and Perseverance donated a variety of items in support of the clean-up such as protective gear, garbage bags, light snacks and drinks for the teams.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s newly-launched Trade and Investment Desk is set to position the metro on the national and global stage as a diversified manufacturing investment destination and exports hub for Africa.

The Desk, in partnership with global auditing, advisory & tax leaders BDO South Africa, global financial services leader Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), is a key driver in the Business Chamber’s strategy to unlock the economic potential of Nelson Mandela Bay to attract and foreign direct investment and enable job creation.

Chamber Chief Executive Denise van Huyssteen said that the positioning of the metro as the Bay of Opportunity aimed to harness its unique advantages as a two-port city with a strong manufacturing base building on its existing strength as South Africa’s automotive hub, with highly-skilled people and an attractive lifestyle proposition.

“The Trade and Investment Desk is a strategic driver in bringing this vision to life, working as a united business community along with our partners and key role-players in the trade and investment space to market the Bay as an investment destination of choice and secure catalytic projects that will drive growth. “The launch of the Desk is a major step forward in resurging the Bay and setting up the local economy for growth and diversification amid massive global advances in technology, new energy and the need for climate resilience. In parallel, as the Chamber is working to improve the enabling environment for business, it is critical that we are proactive in building investor confidence in the advantages of the Bay, and providing support to retain and attract investors,” Van Huyssteen said.

The work of the Trade and Investment Desk will include the marketing of Nelson Mandela Bay as an investment destination; securing partnerships and linkages with key trade and investment role-players to ensure collaborative efforts and consistent messaging; supporting investors with economic data, local information and networking; and facilitating trade and export opportunities for local businesses.

The Desk will support the Chamber’s forward-looking Local Economy Reinvention Think Tank, which is working to generate viable new business opportunities to build on the metro’s strengths and future-proof the local economy.

Van Huyssteen emphasised that the Desk would work in tandem with local, provincial and national government role-players in trade and investment promotion and investor support, seeking “collaboration that enhances a coordinated effort rather than duplication, and provide streamlined engagement for investors”.

Speaking at the launch today [Weds, 10 July 2024] at the Sun Boardwalk Convention Centre, BDO SA CEO Bonga Mokoena said the firm was encouraged by the Business Chamber’s progressive approach and innovative thinking to fostering collaboration for the greater good of the local economy.

“I believe that as partners, we are aligned in our vision of unlocking economic growth. The Chamber’s Trade and Investment Desk, founded on global investment promotion best practice, will be an important lever in our collective vision and create much needed opportunities for the people, businesses and communities of Nelson Mandela Bay and South Africa at large,” said Mokoena.

ECDC chief executive Ayanda Wakaba said the launch of the Desk extended and deepened the long-standing collaborative relationship between the agency and the Chamber on enterprise and exporter development.

“As the provincial agency tasked with promoting the Eastern Cape as an investment facilitating export and trade in order to advance economic growth, we are excited to collaborate with the Chamber on the new Trade Desk and efforts to promote trade and investment. Collaboration involving the metro, the province and the Chamber stands to produce better results for the Eastern Cape Province and Nelson Mandela Bay.

“Nelson Mandela Bay is the largest commercial centre in the Eastern Cape, an anchor for large-scale trade, investment and tourism, and the automotive manufacturers in the Bay are the largest contributor to provincial manufacturing output and trade. It stands to reason that the metro and the Chamber are key partners for the province in economic development,” he said.

Wakaba said ECDC envisaged a close working relationship with the Chamber and would be designating officials to participate in the Trade Desk activities. He said the ECDC was in discussion with the Chamber to locate at an official at the Chamber offices in order to further strengthen integrated efforts. RMB Corporate and Investment Banking Sector Head Pieter Nienaber said the bank supported the Chamber’s vision and its efforts to support business in Nelson Mandela Bay.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Chamber to support the Trade and Investment Desk, an initiative that aligns with our focus on innovation and solutions to add value for business and contribute to economic growth in our country,” Nienaber said.

Business Chamber president Siyolo Dick hailed the founding partners in the Trade and Investment Desk for their shared vision and confidence in the Bay of Opportunity.

“Such collaboration is the only way to transform and resurge Nelson Mandela Bay, and promoting the metro as an investment destination is key to reducing unemployment and transforming the lives of people,” he said.

Embedding the required skills in academic institutions in the Metro from primary to tertiary level is a key priority for the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s Local Economy Reinvention Think Tank, as it works towards repositioning the local economy to be globally competitive amidst a rapidly changing economic landscape.

Nick Marriott, the Think Tank’s strategic programmes officer, says the Think Tank recognises the importance of fostering educational programmes that align with industry demands and future economic trends, including equipping local students with the skills needed to thrive in a dynamic global market. “By integrating these critical skills into higher education, the Think Tank seeks to ensure that graduates are well-prepared to contribute effectively to the local economy and support its transformation on an international scale. More importantly, we want these skills to be retained in the Metro to ensure that we have a strong pool of candidates who can sustain the local industry in next years to come. In the short term, we will be conducting a comprehensive skills and resource audit to identify current and future skills gaps in the local industry,” says Marriott.

The Think Tank has seven work streams focusing on diversifying the local manufacturing industries, capitalising on global gaps, shift the focus from automobile to “altermotive” mobility, strengthen the industry’s flexibility and resilience, utilise Climate Change as an opportunity, retain and grow engineering talent, leverage natural resources, get the city working and to work towards embedding the Nelson Mandela Bay ports and Rail Corridor in the government’s national strategy.

Marriott further elaborates that some of the key actions underway include the establishment of strategic partnerships with various potential partners, securing funding, conducting briefings and brainstorming sessions to find synergies between the groups.

As such, a comprehensive skills audit is planned to identify current and future skills gaps in the local industry. This aligns with the Think Tank’s overall strategy of building an agile, innovative and sustainable economy that is supported by a robust and adaptive workforce capable of meeting the demands of a globalised economy.

“There is unanimity amongst the work stream leads and various stakeholders we have engaged that the projects we will be pursuing must make business sense and be sustainable in the long term. The plan is to set up six kick start projects under the work streams and implement three of these within a year. However, these projects are not intended to be in direct competition with existing manufacturing sectors.

The intent is to create new opportunities to positively impact our local economy,” says Nick. Key criteria for on-boarding projects within the Think Tank will be evaluated based on feasibility to ensure it is self-sustainable, contributes to carbon footprint reduction within the metro or areas close to the region, and addresses skills development to aid in future proofing.

Each project will involve local students in a skills transference process, preparing them for entrepreneurial ventures or roles in local companies where their skills can be effectively utilised. This approach ensures that the projects not only support the local economy, but also foster long-term sustainability and growth. “The idea is that once the student has completed his tenure, he or she can either pursue an entrepreneurial journey or join a local company where his skills can be maximised cohesively and collaboratively,” concludes Marriott.