MEDIA RELEASE
1 JULY 2009
AUTO INDUSTRY TOP BRASS FOR SA AUTOMOTIVE WEEK CONFERENCE
eTV News anchor Jeremy Maggs will facilitate a panel discussion on the first day of the AIDC's Automotive Industry Conference 2009, which will be hosted at the SA Automotive Week in Port Elizabeth on 7-8 October 2009.
The first panel discussion will be in the form of a high level debate about Vision 2020 – whether the country’s hope to produce a million vehicles by 2020 is fantasy or still attainable.
Panel members include key figures in the automotive industry, Dave Powels (NAAMSA President and VWSA MD), Brand Pretorius (McCarthy Holdings CEO), Steve Koch (GMSA President & CE) and Charlie Eggerding (VP, QAD Software).
From left to right: Jeremy Maggs, Dave Powels, Brand Pretorius, Steve Koch, Charlie Eggerding.
The panel discussion will be followed by a session where delegates can address questions to the panel.
A second panel discussion will ask the provocative question: Does the SA automotive industry deserve a bailout? Dr Matthews Phosa, ANC Treasurer, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Maria Ntuli, Coega Development Corporation CEO Pepi Silinga and NUMSA National Secretary Irvin Jim have been invited to participate in this discussion. This panel discussion will be also be followed by interactive Q&A session.
The keynote address will be delivered by Dave Powels and delegates will also be hearing about a rescue plan for the automotive sector from Kevin O'Marah, Chief Strategy Officer from AMR Research, USA. Dr Neal Bruton, Response Group Trendline’s CEO, will discuss the status of economic drivers for new passenger cars.
From left to right: Dr Matthews Phosa, Maria Ntuli, Pepi Silinga, Irvin Jim,Kevin O'Marah.
Says Barlow Manilal, CEO of the AIDC: The theme of the conference is "NAVIGATING THE STORM: A ROADMAP TO VISION 2020." The first day of the conference takes the form of a plenary session with plenty of opportunity for discussion and debate. The second day sees delegates focus on specific areas of interest: Supply Chain Development, Supplier Development and Skills Development & Training."
Minister of Education, Dr Blade Mzimande, has been invited to address delegates on the second day before they split into the focus areas. Topics range from practical guides to managing supply chains for South Africa, to cost saving case studies, innovation and the impact of attracting investment to the SA automotive industry on the skills crisis.
Additional value is on offer to delegates at the Automotive Industry Conference 2009 as part of South African Automotive Week, which includes the only NAACAM endorsed International Trade Show in South Africa. The Trade Show is focused on Component Manufacturing, is for trade only and attracts buyers and suppliers from throughout South Africa and around the globe. Site tours to the Coega IDZ, an OEM and Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup Stadium are among key networking opportunities, which also include golf and the famous Gala Networking Dinner on Port Elizabeth's blue flag beach attended by the who's who of the automotive sector.
Barlow comments: "The global financial crisis is exactly that: global. It means that the South African economy is feeling the pinch and the automotive industry has been equally affected by the global downturn. It is hurting both domestic sales and our export efforts. Instead of sliding into a state of depression over the negative influences, now is the time to work at improving the fundamentals that will ensure a sustainable automotive industry in South Africa in the long-term."
"The AIDC Automotive Industry Conference will address an industry in crisis. Industry role-players are seeing this as a platform to ensure that the industry is equipped with the credible information, resources, direction and sentiment that will allow automotive businesses to make the right strategic decisions for their businesses," says Lance Schultz, AIDC Manager and AIC Conference Manager.
Conference fees for the two day conference are R4,069 excluding VAT per delegate. The early bird conference fee presents a saving of over 15% if registration is completed by 31 July 2009.
For more information about opportunities at SA Automotive Week please contact Alastair Stead at call him on 041 363 0310 or visit www.saaw.co.za.
Ends
Issued by Deon Engelke
SA Automotive Week
041363 0310 – tel
082692 4382 - cell