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South Africa Automotive Summit, 2013

February 27th - March 1st, 2013, Johannesburg, South Africa

The South African government has identified the automotive industry as a key growth sector, aiming to increase production to 1.2 million by 2020. Domestic and international automotive manufacturers and component suppliers are looking to capitalize on this growing market, encouraged by several Governments’ initiatives to support investments and create infrastructures.

Noppen’s South Africa Automotive Summit 2013, in partnership with the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC), took place on 27th – 28th February 2013 in Johannesburg. The Summit brought together major domestic and international players in the industry and government organizations to discuss critical topics including government’s initiatives, best practices in the automotive sector, as well as doing business in Africa in general. “It was excellent and we wish all success. “Ashok Leyland

The two-day conference was inaugurated and chaired by Mr. Barlow Manilal, CEO of the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) and acting CEO of the Supplier Park Development Centre (SPDC). He welcomed the delegates on Day 1 with an opening directional speech.

The first speaker of the conference was Mr. Riaan Labuschagne from the City of Tshwane Municipality, who presented a picture of the investment climate in Tshwane. He also shed light on future plans of Tshwane Automotive City.

In a follow-up presentation, Mr. Manilal outlined some global trends in the automotive industry, the South Africa auto industry in perspective and especially the investment situation and opportunities in the Gauteng province. He touched briefly upon some government initiatives, projects and partnerships, both existing and ongoing, which were further elaborated by other speakers in the following presentations during the course of the two-day summit.

Day 1 morning also saw the presence of political leadership from the Gauteng Province, including MEC Nkosiphendule Kolisile from the Department of Economic Development and Mr. Siphiwe Ngwenya, Acting CEO of Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA). Both of them gave keynote speech to welcome the local and international audience.

Following the presentations from the Department of Trade and Industry (dti), respectively by Ms. Shareen Osman– Chief Director: Strategic Partnerships and Customer Care, on government incentives and Mr. Renai Moothilal– Director: Automotive Sector, on the Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP), a panel discussion was set up which included two international OEMs, Ashok Leyland from India, represented by Dr. Vijayan Pillai – Regional Manager, Southern Africa, and Jiangling Motor Corporation (JMC) from China, represented by Mr. Weiping Dai – Managing Director, JMC, South Africa. “The event had very good speakers who understand the sector. Very informational, very encouraging and absorbed a lot of information.” The Retail Motor Industry Organization
On Day 2, some innovative projects and best practices in the automotive industry were presented.

A case study on the public private partnership between OEM and provincial government was presented by Mr. Joggie Mentz – Overseas Programme Director, Nissan SA. He dealt with the alignment with government priorities in Gauteng through partnership in his presentation and gave some detailed information on the automotive training academy which is co-developed by Nissan SA and AIDC. Another public private partnership model is the Ford incubation centre, presented by Mr. Neeraj Kessery– Manager: Enterprise Development and Incubation Programmes, AIDC.

“Good quality of information exchanged.” MAN Truck and Bus South Africa Other standout speakers on Day 2 were Mr. Ashish Sharma, CEO of Tata Motors SA, and Mr. Vivek Avasthi, CEO of Motherson Sumi Systems Ltd (MSSL) SA. Both of them from India spoke from a foreign investor’s perspective. Mr. Sharma presented the Tata Motors group to the audience and walked them through the Tata Motors’ plant in Rosslyn. Mr. Avasthi shared their South African experience in his presentation, touched upon some major concerns for international players entering South Africa such as land acquisition and labour conditions in the country and gave international delegates useful suggestions on doing business in South Africa.

Other notable speakers at the Summit were Advocate Leslie Sedibe
– CEO of Proudly SA, Mr. Mazwi Tunyiswa – SBU Head: Metal, Transport and Machinery Products, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Dr. Raymond Patel - Chief Executive Officer: merSETA, Mr. Andrew Bizzell – Chairman, Senior Consultant and & CEO, BEESA Group, Mr. Kudzanayi Bangure – Programme Manager: Automotive and and Transportation, Frost and Sullivan, Mr. Sake van der Wal – Deputy Director: Investment Promotion and Facilitation, Trade and Investment South Africa, the dti, Mr. Victor Kgomoeswana – Executive: Business Development, Pretoria Portland Cement, Mr. Dineshan Moodley – Executive: Industry Development, AIDC, Mr. Nkumbuzi Ben-Mazwi – Manager: Supplier Development Department, AIDC, Ms. Bianca Jagger – Senior Project Manager, AIDC, andMr. Louis Hellberg – SHEQ Manager, MA Automotive.

Following the two-day conference, an industry site tour was organized on 1st March for delegates to visit the Nissan plant and the Automotive Supplier Park in Rosslyn, and the Ford Incubation Centre in Silverton. The delegates found it very interesting to visit the OEM plants and supplier facilities in a combined tour.
“I successfully gathered very potential leads from infrastructural OEM visitors.” Kwazulu Natal Trade and Investment

Noppen would like to thank our partners and sponsors, the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC), KLT Automotive & Tubular Products LTD and Rassini NHK Automotive. Noppen would also like to thank all the eminent speakers, delegates and media partners for contributing to the event’s success.

South Africa Automotive Summit, 2013

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