Manufacturing Indaba KwaZulu-Natal 2019 (MI KZN) hosted a breakfast presentation on Friday 10th, 2019 at the Durban Convention Centre (Durban ICC).

“The information shared about what to expect from this years KZN Manufacturing Indaba was excellent. I also really enjoyed learning about what will be different this year, said Judith Serafim from Imvusa Interior Trim.

Due to popular demand, Manufacturing Indaba KZN will now be taking place over two days (14th & 15th August 2019) providing an increased opportunity for the number of visitors to visit and attend the Exhibition.

MI KZN is growing the Exhibition by two days and providing an added incentive for exhibitors to showcase their expertise for longer, enhancing networking prospects with peers and industry suppliers, whilst facilitating further trade and deal-making time. 

Regarding the status of manufacturing in South Africa, Philippa Rodseth, the Manufacturing Circle (MC) Executive noted encouragingly, that despite the country being in a recession in the first half of the year, the results in this quarter are on or above the 50-point threshold. A Manufacturing Circle (MC) survey indicated that manufacturing sentiments are positive for 2019. The Manufacturing Circle Investment Tracker (MCIT) was 58 in the third quarter, the same as the second quarter indicating that expenditure patterns are expanding.

MCIT specified that the most buoyant sectors appeared to be paper and packaging, as well as the automotive sector. Economists look at real final sales to gauge how strong or weak underlying trends are and data released by Statistics South Africa in September showed that sales grew by 2.0% in the second quarter on a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted annualised basis after a 3.1% contraction in the first quarter. 

In particular, metals, wood, packaging & paper, chemicals and transport equipment sectors contributed to this increase. One pertinent example in counteracting rising costs is that the paper and packaging manufacturers plan to invest further in property, plant and equipment expansion, maintenance and replacement projects and high-quality products to remain competitive.

Accordingly, paper and forest products group Sappi confirmed that it is considering a further expansion of its giant Saiccor dissolving wood pulp mill in KZN by 2022/23. Sappi recently made the decision to invest R7.7 billion to expand output at the mill by 110 000 tonnes per year, which could result in a 9% rise in permanent jobs at the mill.

Hence, MI KZN like all previous very successful Manufacturing Indabas hosted countrywide will expose manufacturers, industry experts and stakeholders to the latest in manufacturing knowledge, including the Black Industrialist Programme, what government incentives are available and the trends that are impacting manufacturing, such as the implementation of Industry 4.0.

Participants can expect a conference programme that will include plenary sessions with interactive debating sessions and a sophisticated MI Business Matchmaking Programme that provides a platform for networking, sourcing new business and collaboration.