April 2011 - Malnor

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Trade News New market, way forward A new Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) hosted a series of talks between leading South African component suppliers, the South African government and top Daimler AG officials in Germany recently in a bid to encourage further local growth in the component supply industry and to openly debate challenges to achieving greater localisation in this important part of the SA auto industry. Following the December 2010 announcement of Daimler AG that it was to invest a sizeable R2 billion into the MBSA plant in East London for the production of the nextgeneration C-Class, the group’s focus has been on fruitful discussion with the Department of Trade and Industry to find ways of attracting more international component manufacturers to invest in SA, establish large-scale production here and thus create more jobs and a wider industry infrastructure. Dr Wolfgang Bernhard, Daimler AG Board of Management member, Manufacturing and Procurement Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans, said: “The Mercedes-Benz plant in East London has been recognised repeatedly for its excellent production quality and is one of the best manufacturing plants in the industry. Moreover, MBSA managed to provide us with a future business and production plan that is competitive globally. This was crucial in our decision to extend production activities in South Africa. This latest investment follows numerous significant investments, totalling over R5 billion, that Daimler AG has made in South Africa over the past 10 years.” 30 farmers market opened in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, has been praised as a true development for the disadvantaged. The Newport Fruit and Vegetable Fresh Produce Market, opened with R3,5 million funding support from The National Development Agency (NDA), will assist emerging farmers, generate jobs and provide a sustainable income for the area from wholesale produce. “Newport Market is a solution to the emerging farmers’ problem of market access. We had more and more NDA funded initiatives that were unable to grow and sustain themselves after the NDA funding has run out. We realised that the same problems were affecting other small and emerging farmers.” The Newport Market will service the emerging farmers from the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. It has a database of farmers from the Midlands and afar, of which 40 are already able to supply the market. These farmers will get advice on what to Plan to grow local component supply industry SA Minister of the plant and when to plant based on market demand from the Newport Market personnel. This approach will play a major role in the eradication of poverty and creation of much needed jobs. The NDA gave the Newport Market Cooperative a grant to the amount of R3,5 million. The grant went towards leasing the market building, shop fitting with new equipment, training, administrative costs, stipends for the Cooperative members, securing of stock and hiring a mentor, Mr Mark Elliot, from Peter and Co who has been guiding the Cooperative from the beginning of the project. ◆ Department of Trade and Industry Rob Davies attended the MBSA Supplier forum in Germany The delegation to Germany included Minister of the Department of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, who expressed support for the initiative and pledged government’s commitment to finding optimum solutions within the scope of the existing and future legislative framework for a significant strengthening of the automotive industry in South Africa. “This initiative, spearheaded by MBSA, has a two goal approach. One aim is to encourage the expansion of component suppliers already based in South Africa,” explained the MBSA host, Rainer Ruess, Vice-president at MBSA responsible for manufacturing and procurement. “The second aim is to encourage other global component suppliers not yet producing in South Africa to join our industry, either through joint ventures or new establishments here and so bring with them their access to global research and development and innovative technologies.” According to NAAMSA (National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa) the automotive industry contributes in excess of 6% annually to the country’s GDP and is responsible for well over 28 000 jobs. ◆ EXPORT & IMPORT SA // APRIL <strong>2011</strong>
Piracy, pollution: SAMSA vigilant Speaking at the recent RPMASA meeting: Karl Otto, executive head of SAMSA’s Centre for Sea Watch & Response Escalating threats and risks at sea have prompted the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) to install sophisticated navigation satellite systems to monitor vessels. Called Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT), the surveillance tool covers waters, south of the equator which monitors and tracks vessels. The introduction of the LRIT follows concerns over the safety of the safety of seafarers; the standard of ships within South African waters; the high levels of cargo which are at risk such as fuels and oils; the number of wrecks along the coast; the threat of pollution of the marine environment by ships. It also serves as a mechanism to prevent piracy. The CSWR, through its LRIT, has the capacity to identify and track vessels up to 1 000 nautical miles (1 850 kilometres) from our coastline as well as South Africa flagged (that is, South African registered) vessels anywhere in the world. This system enables the maritime authority to communicate directly with ships, improving the quality of information exchanged with the vessel’s master who at all times has to be fully appraised of any situation which may develop. Lifting specialist expands Heavy lifting and plant relocation business Vanguard has acquired a 2 800m² handling and storage yard in the Richards Bay Port. The acquisition will extend the company’s in-harbour capabilities and complement the multi-axle service it already offers from all harbours in the SADC region and Mozambique. According to the company’s Managing Director, Bryan Hodgkinson, “We are now able to offer our clients a complete turnkey transportation solution, including harbour offloading and reloading, route surveys, road clearance and EXPORT & IMPORT SA // APRIL <strong>2011</strong> Trade News This is a revolutionary development in the security of our seas. Until now we had very limited capacity to identify, track and monitor shipping beyond the horizon. Many ships have sailed our waters without our knowledge. Some may even have polluted our waters unbeknown to us. Until now we have not been able to track vessels which may have carried toxic and hazardous cargo to South African ports or were transiting our waters to foreign destinations. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, shipping enjoys “innocent passage” through territorial waters. However, coastal states are required to protect their marine resources and to prevent and combat pollution of the marine environment. Speaking at the international conference hosted by the Responsible Packaging Management Association of South Africa (see page 22 of this issue) in Durban Karl Otto, executive head of SAMSA’s Centre for Sea Watch & Response: “Any cargo transported must ensure there is no risk of pollution. With any negative publicity of marine catastrophe this has an impact on our exports and the economy. “We have to ensure that South Africa’s trade routes, which is the backbone of our economic growth and which is responsible for over 90% of imports or exports is an industry, cannot be compromised. Any mop up or clean up has huge cost ramifications.” SAMSA recently created an office for dangerous goods to ensure compliance, and that the movement of cargo is safe and all possibilities of damage is avoided. “We need to ensure,” Otto said, “the pressures of making profit do not force companies to compromise on safety.” International trade makes up over 50% of South Africa’s GDP and over 95% of our international trade is transported via the sea. While to date the movement of cargo along the South African coast has not been affected by piracy, the LRIT navigation system is in place to monitor our waters. SAMSA, through the International Maritime Organisation, has extended an invitation to other African countries and member states to utilise the revolutionary equipment on hand. ◆ permits, as well as on-site offloading and rigging.” Added value benefits of having storage capacity at the harbour, says the company, include not having to go through customs from the quayside to the storage yard and lower mobilisation costs, as trailers and prime movers can be on stand-by while waiting for ships to dock and the cargo to be offloaded. ◆ 31
Page 2 and 3: Cool Chain Association Following a
Page 4 and 5: Editor’s Comment 2 Publisher: Ken
Page 6 and 7: Cover Story Boosting warehouse oper
Page 8 and 9: export & import International Globa
Page 10 and 11: Port of the Month The desert countr
Page 12 and 13: Port of the Month “Port of the wh
Page 14 and 15: 18652 Export 04/2011 Port of the Mo
Page 16 and 17: Advertorial Your agent, your ally T
Page 18 and 19: 18747 Export 04/2011 Warehousing Co
Page 20 and 21: Import Challenging supply tradition
Page 22 and 23: IT 20 Effective organisations need
Page 24 and 25: Credit Guarantee country profile Ga
Page 26 and 27: Credit Guarantee country profile Th
Page 28 and 29: Credit Guarantee country profile
Page 30 and 31: Trade News BP’s rail gantry compl
Page 34 and 35: 2011 Event calendar (*Recommended))
Page 36: 18651 Export 04/2011

April 2011 - Malnor

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?