Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane says the support for the automotive industry in the province has seen the retention of hundreds of jobs at the time the sector was experiencing difficulties. The AIDC has also announced 300 new recruits by Ford Motor Company, who have now completed their training.

This comes as Ford South Africa is preparing to launch a multi-billion rand investment to expand capacity at its Silverton plant. The expansion will see the company producing more vehicles for export market. "More importantly it confirms the correctness of our decision to invest public money to support the growth of the automotive industry in Gauteng," said Mokonyane.

The provincial government will be spending R105 million to build a supplier park in Silverton for the previously disadvantaged suppliers.

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Research conducted by the AIDC has found South Africa's ports to be amongst the world's most expensive to use.

Based on 2006 data, dues for an average container vessel offloading or loading at Durban, SA's largest port, were US$306000. Terminal handling charges lifted total average costs to $488000. This is between 80% and 170% higher than costs at major European ports, and eight times more than those charged by Latin America's most expensive port, Buenos Aires. An average ship incurs costs of $35000/day while waiting for a berth or while in harbour.

Click here to read the full story in Financial Mail

Following analysis of the informal automotive sector, the AIDC is lobbying for the establishment of automotive parks for SMMEs based on a model of micro-franchising.

Grant Minnie, Supply Chain Development Senior Project Manager of the AIDC, who completed unique research into the informal automotive sector, maintains that cities would promote new business opportunities by implementing such a business zone, mainly for the aftermarket, and build a bridge between the formal and informal sectors of the economy.

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GEARING OUT OF THE RECESSION - WHAT'S THE PLAN!

Last year's conference was a huge success with strong participation by industry and government and over 300 delegates made use of valuable networking opportunities.

This year's conference promises to be even more exciting. Don't miss it!

• Date: 3 - 4 November 2010
• Venue: OR Tambo Birchwood Conference Centre

Exhibitor and Conference information

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's (NMBM) Automotive Experiential Career Development Programme (AECDP) winter school graduation ceremony saw 28 learners from sixteen schools graduating at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University recently.

Automotive Experiential Career Development ProgrammeNMMU annually hosts the event in collaboration with the NMBM and programme creator, the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC).

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Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) and the Gauteng provincial government on Tuesday announced an initiative to establish an incubation centre to nurture black-owned component suppliers to the vehicle manufacturer's plant in Silverton, Pretoria.

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The automotive industry will need to significantly improve its electricity management to remain competitive. This was the message heard by delegates at the "Lean to Green Workshop" hosted by the AIDC and Eskom last week.

Addressing close to 100 manufacturers at the workshop, AIDC Supplier Development Manager, Lance Schultz said that load shedding would likely be re-introduced by Eskom in the late part of the year as current projections indicated that energy supply would lag demand then... Read Complete Article

Eskom - Gary Dysel
Hansens - Erik Hansen
Driving innovation in the Eastern Cape - Jacqueline Barnett
Shatterprufe - Dr. Dino Petrarolo

Click here to download the standard bid document.

Download the application form here and drop it off at the AIDC's offices

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