Realigning water industry assets in digitally enhanced operations

Digital transformation is blending information and operational technology for asset performance improvements that reduce costs, optimise efficiency and improve conservation in the water and wastewater operations. “This opportunity comes at a time when water is recognised as a limited, high-value resource,” states Jacques Squire, Water and Wastewater Segment Leader at Schneider Electric South Africa. “The United Nations projects that if current water usage trends continue, by 2030 the world will have only 60% of the water it needs. This pending scarcity compounds pressures already mounting in the industry.” Industry pressures…

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Toyota CEO: SA car industry could get R60bn boost in next 5 years

As much as R60 billion could be invested in the South African vehicle and component manufacturing industries in the next five years, according to Andrew Kirby, CEO of Toyota South Africa and president of National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA). In a recent speech at the annual NAAMSA Conference in Kyalami, Kirby said the seven largest vehicle manufacturers are considering  R40 billion in direct investments, with an additional R20 billion earmarked for component making.   The industry wants to increase the use of locally-produced components in vehicles. “We…

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Zambia warns truck drivers not to travel to SA on September 2

Pretoria – Zambia’s High Commission in Pretoria on Monday issued a travel advisory warning its citizens in the trucking business to avoid travelling to South Africa on September 2, amidst threats of violence. The high commission’s Naomi Nyawali said reports have been received of some Zambian truck drivers being threatened with violence ahead of a planned nationwide work stoppage by their disgruntled South African counterparts. “According to the information made available to the Zambian mission, some Zambian truck drivers have faced physical attacks and threats from their South African counterparts…

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Aspen to split SA commercial pharmaceutical business

Multinational drugmaker Aspen Pharmacare said it will split its South African Commercial Pharmaceuticals business into two distinct divisions as part of a strategic review of its South African and European operations. Aspen, with a presence in 56 countries spanning six continents, said on Thusday the split would improve its focus on products and customers. In its half-year results statement, it said a second phase of the review would concentrate on developing strategies specific to each division, although it did not say what the two divisions would be. Source: Rueters

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the dti and the High Commission of India in Pretoria to Host India-South Africa Business Summit

The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in partnership with the High Commission of India, Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India,  Invest India, the Confederation of Indian Industry, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry will host the India-South Africa Business Summit under the theme “United by Legacy, Unified for Prosperity”. The Business Summit will be held on 29-30 April 2018 at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg and seeks to maximise the potential of the economic and commercial partnership between South Africa and India leveraging…

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SA, Senegal rev up business connections

President Jacob Zuma says the South Africa-Senegal Business Forum must actively seize the opportunities created by the bilateral relations between the two countries, to increase trade opportunities. The President was addressing the forum on Tuesday, which met in Cape Town to discuss efforts to increase trade and investment between the two countries. The forum took place amid a State visit by Senegalese President Macky Sall, which set to reaffirm commitment between the two States to increase economic cooperation. “It is encouraging to see that relations between our two countries are…

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Mahindra latest car group to invest in SA plant

Mahindra on Friday announced it would start assembling its products in SA in 2018. The Indian company, which has a market cap of $12bn, has 34 plants around the world for its passenger vehicles, bakkies, trucks, tractors and agricultural machinery. The announcement came in a year in which huge investments have been made in the country by motoring giants such as BMW, Isuzu Motors and Chinese car maker BAIC. It also came after US car maker General Motors withdrew from SA, citing its “global business priorities”. “We believe it is…

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Industry leaders gather to build South African manufacturing

The fourth annual Manufacturing Indaba, held on 27-28 June 2017 in Ekurhuleni, brought together key industry players, with revitalisation and collaboration high on the agenda. Delivering the welcome address at the start of the Manufacturing Indaba, Dr Nkosindiphile Xhakaza – MMC for Finance and Economic Development, City of Ekurhuleni, said, “This event is of the utmost importance to us as it brings about much-needed growth to the manufacturing sector, which contributes greatly to the growth of this country and the economic trajectory.” The Minister of the dti, Dr Rob Davies,…

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