The National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers of South Africa says industry and government will gather on a large-scale at the NAACAM Show in April next year to drive manufacturing growth in the sector.

NAACAM President Dave Coffey said the Show, to be held every two years on a rotational basis in the manufacturing centres of the country, would accelerate the extent of localisation (locally made components used in the assembly lines of South African based OEMs) and volumes of exported locally made components. Higher volumes are central to South Africa's manufacturing output and trade balance indicators and a key pillar of the industry's growth plan, detailed by its Automotive Supply Chain Competitiveness Initiative (ASCCI), says Coffey.

The inaugural NAACAM Show will take place at the Durban ICC from April 5-7, 2017.

Coffey said the automotive sector's collective strategy was to increase  local vehicle production to volumes that justify deeper levels of localisation.

"NAACAM fully supports government’s long-term objectives for the South African automotive industry, namely the production of high-volume, high-quality vehicles at a competitive cost and with deeper levels of local content. The NAACAM Show, which will showcase the total supply chain - NAACAM members and non-members alike - is designed to assist in achieving these objectives.'' Coffey said.

A large-scale exhibition, industry conference, learning tour and The Durban Automotive Cluster's (DAC) National Localisation Indaba are key features of the effort, says Coffey.

Buyer-Supplier Linkage meetings are facilitated free of charge to all SA domiciled manufacturers and buyers who are registered to attend the NAACAM Show incorporating the DAC National Localisation Indaba.

The meetings (facilitated between OEMs, Tier 1s, Tier 2s and Tier 3s) facilitate both short and long term localisation opportunities. They will take place in private meeting rooms throughout the duration of the NAACAM Show.

Automotive manufacturing is a mainstay of South Africa's industrial base, contributing 7,2% of GDP, 30,2% of manufacturing output and  11,7% of SA exports  (source - AIEC).

While the sector produces around 600,000 vehicles a year, supporting more than 100,000 manufacturing jobs, NAAMSA President Mike Whitfield  has  forecast its contribution to GDP to rise to 10% by 2020.

In partnership with the Durban Automotive Cluster (DAC) and the National Localisation Indaba, The NAACAM Show  provides South African component suppliers the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities, network and do business with local and foreign, existing and potential customers.

It provides buyers with the opportunity to communicate their localisation needs and source automotive products from world class component manufacturers. The conference will host leading speakers and panellists talking on issues critical to industry performance and development, with industry members sharing on their localisation and operational challenges and successes.

Coffey said since the NAACAM Show was launched in July, it has received the support and participation of a wide range of organisations, including the DTI, NAAMSA as well as Tier 1, 2 and 3 suppliers and their service providers.

"We are very pleased at the response and cohesion that is building to enable the Show make a tangible difference to the manufacturing supply chain, when it is hosted next year.''

More information is available at www.naacamshow.co.za