Dti hosts industrial parks symposium

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) is currently hosting the second National Industrial Parks Symposium.

The two-day symposium will serve as a platform where the dti will engage key stakeholders linked to the administration and management of state owned industrial parks.

Minister Rob Davies said that it was at the 2016 Symposium where it was determined that industrial parks needed to follow a cluster-based methodology which would promote growth and competitiveness of the firms operating in the industrial parks.

“To follow up on the achievements made in 2016 we have ensured that for the 2017 symposium we mobilise stakeholders comprising of provincial departments, municipalities, industrial park agencies, academia and the private sector to engage meaningfully about the manner in which the development of industrial parks should proceed,” said Minister Davies.

This year’s industrial parks symposium is taking place at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) offices in Midrand under the theme “The Association of Industrial Parks”.

The meeting will feature content from prominent speakers that promote the key functions of the impending association of industrial parks.

“The 2017 symposium will serve as a starting-point for establishing measures, and rational steps to ensure growth and long-term sustainability of industrial parks. As in the case of the previous symposium the intention remains one that produces interactive engagement between speakers and delegates; and as a result generates tangible steps towards the development of our state-owned Industrial Parks,” sad Minister Davies.

The meeting will conclude on Thursday.

In February, the dti announced that it has set aside R216 million for the renovation of five industrial parks. Last year, the department spent more than R180 million upgrading six industrial parks spread across five provinces. – SAnews.gov.za