Nissan South Africa welcomed Gauteng Premier David Makhura and his delegation to its Head Office in Rosslyn, north of Pretoria, last week. This visit was part of the government’s Ntirisano programme, which is aimed at solving local community problems and empowers them to drive their own development.
 
Premier Makhura and his delegation, which included Tshwane Mayor Cllr Kgosientso Ramokgopa, Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile and Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) CEO Dr David Masondo, have recently visited three of the biggest automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) situated in Tshwane: Nissan, BMW and Ford.
 
“We want to improve partnerships between government and the private sector to increase the level of employment and skills development, and to address issues of local inclusion in the economy,” said Premier Makhura, speaking on the objectives of Ntirisano.
 
The project is part of a larger programme by the government to focus on the importance of the automotive sector within the broader manufacturing industry. “The auto sector remains a key driver of the South African economy, contributing 115 billion Rand and creating 110,000 jobs nationwide. This accounts for 11.7% of South Africa’s manufacturing exports and 33% of Gauteng’s automotive manufacturing,” said Makhura.
 
Said Nissan Managing Director Mike Whitfield: “The automotive industry is one of the successful and growing sectors in the South African economy. All this is made possible thanks to partnerships between the three levels of government.”
 
During the tour Nissan shared its Africa expansion strategy with the Premier. Similar to the government’s strategy, Nissan’s goal is to support the automotive industry through various local and national incentives, creating a global value chain intended to attract global OEMs looking to invest in South Africa. This involves ensuring South Africa has the necessary skills for a high-quality workforce.
 
Acknowledging long-standing public and private sector partnerships, Nissan’s Whitfield stressed the importance of turning the Nissan plant in Rosslyn into a base which exports vehicles to markets in the Africa, Middle East and India (AMI) region. He also highlighted the importance of skills development through partnerships with organizations such as the AIDC.
 
“The Nissan presence that has been built here has been achieved in collaboration with the Gauteng province, led by the Premier and the MEC, as well as Tshwane and the AIDC. The incubation and training centres are a result of that partnership, and they will continue to make automotive a critical part of the mix. Nissan welcomes the ongoing support and participation of our partners,” concluded Whitfield.