![[South Africa] Dti set to launch specialised industrial facility in Gauteng](Images/2018/05/dti_south africa.jpg)
[South Africa] Dti set to launch specialised industrial facility in Gauteng
The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), will launch the Specialized Industrial Facility (SIF) at the Ekurhuleni East Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College, in Springs, Gauteng on Friday, December 6, 2019. The Executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Counselor Mzwandile Masina and the Principal of the College, Ms Happy Sibande will be in attenance.
Specialized Industrial Facilities are pilot centers funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) to support skills development for students and provide technology access to Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to improve their productivity and create job opportunities. The areas of focus that will be supported with efficient SIF equipment include construction, metal fabrication, jewelery manufacturing, agro-processing and vehicle maintenance.
According to Deputy Minister of the Department of Trade and Industry, Mr Fikile Majola, the objective of the launch is to showcase the services of the dti and to create awareness to the community about the significance of the SIF and address ways to access it.
“The overall objective of the SIF is to establish design center and production units in order to improve SMMEs' business performance and productivity. The project will also create testing facilities for low technologies that are accessible for SMMEs to enhance quality of their products and develop employment opportunities, ”says Majola. He adds that the targeted SMMEs will further receive business development services support from the college in order to grow and sustain their industries. He says students will also get the opportunity to use their skills by using equipment in the SIF.
The Principal for the Ekurhuleni TVET, Ms Happy Sibande says the partnership with the dti will achieve its mission to empower the students and SMMEs particularly in the space of artisan. “We are pleased to have been selected as part of the SIF project. It is a great opportunity for the institution to explore the technological side of things, especially now that we are moving towards the era of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), ”says Sibande.
The partnership between the dti and Ekurhuleni East TVET College will run for a period of three years for the implementation of the SIF project plan.
