High-calibre speakers from Government, labour, business and academia will address delegates attending the fifth annual Southern African Metals and Engineering Indaba which takes place at the IDC Conference Centre in Sandton tomorrow and on Friday, Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba said today.

Speaking ahead of this year’s annual gathering of captains of industry, policy makers and entrepreneurs, Mr Nyatsumba said the 2019 Indaba boasts highly-respected business leaders, politicians and academics, including Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel, NUMSA General Secretary Irvin Jim, Massmart and Aspen Holdings Chairman Kuseni Dlamini, Wits Business School Professor Patrick Bond and Deloitte’s Dr Martin Davis, among others.

These speakers will tackle challenges currently facing South Africa’s economy, which is marred by slow growth, high unemployment, high inequality and most recently attacks on foreign nationals.

Mr Nyatsumba said the speakers will deliberate on the following topics, among others:

• A Growing Chinese Presence in South Africa: How Should Local Business Respond?

• The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Manufacturing: Is South Africa Ready – Or Will It Be Left Behind?

• Africa is Open for Business: Is Local Manufacturing Ready to Leverage Opportunities Presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area?

• The Economy, Labour Stability and the 2020 MEIBC Negotiations on Wages and Conditions of Employment

Now in its fifth year, the Indaba is organized and hosted by SEIFSA. Its core objective is to provide a platform for policy makers, labour representatives and businesses operating in the metals, engineering and related sectors to discuss the challenges facing the sector and collectively to devise sustainable solutions aimed at ensuring its sustainability.

Mr Nyatsumba encouraged those who have yet to register for the 2019 Southern African Metals and Engineering Indaba to do so speedily to avoid missing out.