ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL
In line with SEIFSA’ s mission, the Economic and Commercial Division’ s aim is to enhance the profile of SEIFSA by providing input to the national discourse on economic, trade and commercial matters. This is aimed at, generally, improving business conditions in the metals and engineering( M & E) sub-industry of manufacturing. The M & E sector is a strategic industry for South Africa, which contributes roughly 3.6 % to the gross domestic product of the country and comprises 45 % of manufacturing. Companies in the sector export 52.1 % of production to the rest of the world, earning valuable foreign currency for South Africa.
Our Economic and Commercial Division comprises a team with specialised knowledge and technical know-how to support and advise companies in the industry on a case-bycase basis.
The Division provides the following services:
• Continuous economic research to understand and communicate industry market intelligence to the members, member Associations, Government and the general public.
• Customised economic and market analysis in support of companies’ strategic sessions and budget planning cycles.
• Maintaining and expanding the Price and Index Pages( PIPS) product as the eminent cost tracking product for the M & E sector.
• Business planning to attract and raise finance for a start-up or expanding a business
• Government Industry Incentives
• Imports and Exports trends
Workshops
• Theory and Calculation of Contract Price Adjustment workshop
• How To Tender Successfully- Beginner’ s course in collaboration with the Industrial Relations and Legal Services Division
The Division strives to influence the business environment positively by representing the sector in debates and forums about monetary, fiscal, industrial and trade policies. This is done through:
• Direct interaction with the relevant institutions in the public sector, such as the South African Reserve Bank, the National Treasury, the Department of Trade and Industry, Customs, the National Empowerment Fund and many others;
• Participation in multilateral forums through Business Unity South Africa, the National Economic Development and Labour Council and the Technical Sectoral Liaison Committee; and
• Ad-hoc research carried out on numerous subjects such as the electricity crisis, or the extent and impact of import penetration into the M & E market. In many instances, the very rich knowledge present amongst individuals, or within Associations or sub-industries is harnessed and utilised in compiling position papers on issues of importance to the sector.
Advisory services on
• Sector economic conditions and outlook
• Comprehensive advisory service on transformation to companies
• Business Improvement
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SEIFSA AT 75- SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE