After a year of research and consultations with the local aerospace industry, the South African government has decided to help support growth in the industry through the creation of a joint institution, called the Aerospace Industry Support Initiative, according to Minister of Trade and Industry Mandisi Mpahlwa.
Speaking at the opening of the African Aerospace and Defence Trade Show on Tuesday, Mpahlwa said that the government has recognised the importance of the aerospace industry as part of its strategy of developing industry, growing the economy and attracting investment.
“This industry falls squarely into our approach to economic development and we have seen that it has potential for export growth, value addition and through international subcontracting arrangements, stimulates industrial innovation, competitiveness and growth further down the supply chain.”
He revealed that over the past year the government has engaged with leading defence and aerospace companies to create broad consensus on the future of the industry and how to unlock the potential that exists. This is in addition to research that the government has done, which has identified the need to create institutional support for the local industry.
As a result, he said, the government has decided to create the dedicated Aerospace Industry Support Initiative, to be implemented in partnership between the government, industry and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
A high-level advisory task team, comprising a number of stakeholders, business people and industrialists, will shortly be appointed to oversee the new body’s work.
Areas that are being looked at to stimulate growth in the aerospace industry include:
- Ensuring that the government supports and promotes the high standards and quality required in the industry;
- Encouraging training of industry personnel to improve their capabilities continuously; and
- Working with universities, science councils and other research and academic institutions to promote further research and to encourage students to consider the aerospace industry as a career option.
This collaboration, in partnership with industry players, should culminate in the establishment of an Aerospace Centre of Excellence to support the development of skills, research and technology.
Another area to be examined is supporting the growth of the space industry, the minister added. South Africa already has capabilities in this industry, he noted, that could offer great benefits to Africa through increasing the connectivity of and communication between African countries.
Also of importance is partnering with Brazil in the development of new products in the defence and regional travel industries, as well as using synergies between India, Brazil and South Africa, Mpahlwa concluded. — I-Net Bridge