This new integration, which operates voluntarily to be a non-profit organisation, is aimed towards sustaining; assisting, advancing and expanding the Western Cape’s maritime industry with an enduring and prosperous industrial sector.
This initiative was assembled primarily from the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism; Raizcorp; SAASR; Damen Shipyards; the Kingdom in the Netherlands, and Royal IHC, while supporting parties include Wesgro, SAOGA, SAIMI and Simonis Voogd Yacht Design.
The founders anticipate to expand its support base and invite other corporations, businesses and associated becoming a part of this maritime cluster.
Expected success on the cluster
Consul General from the Netherlands Bonnie Horbach was on the opinion how the strength in the cluster depends on the aims, objectives and ambitions in the cluster. This entails the continued growth and improvement in the maritime’s industrial supply chain. This relates not just in established businesses within the Western Cape. This maritime cluster must endeavour to aid the current companies inside supply chain, or even generate more occupations within the region.
The cluster was founded with a constitutional commitment according to South Africa’s agenda for transformation in terms on the marine economy. This document expressed the cluster’s dedication to necessitous businesses – through economic empowerment and generating sustainable jobs. The constitutional principles are aligned with “Operation Phakisa” – a cross-sectoral programme espoused in SA’s transformation agenda that’s concerned with its marine economy.
Rashid Toefy – Deputy Director General with the Western Cape Department of Economic Opportunities – said: “Oil and gas alongside the marine sector form a fundamental portion of our lives here within the Western Cape and therefore have been referred to as priority sectors with the government.” He also stated that this cornerstone towards the immense improvement seen from the ICT and textile sectors, following a implementation of clusters over these industries, was ensuring “a holistic approach incorporating business, labour and government so that this lives every day South Africans are impacted.” This confirmation on the success of industry clusters was pivotal in securing support from your Western Cape provincial government within the founding of the maritime cluster.
Expected role with the maritime cluster
The Western Cape maritime cluster will seek to promote and support a long lasting and ever-developing maritime industry. Furthermore, it aims in promoting further the opportunity to maintain, unite and expand formerly disadvantaged maritime enterprises. They aspire to accomplish this by campaigning; mentorships, networking, tactical coalitions, along with recognising and fostering transcending entrepreneurs and pioneers.
Such strategic coalitions with training institutions; principal businesses; corporate stakeholders, together with government organisations – will concentrate on continuously providing opportunities and occasions to foster the increase of business and skills development, prior to the interests and of SMMEs. Simultaneously, these alliances will support corporate members, throughout the appropriate continuing development of their supply chain needs.
The following stage will entail the cluster guaranteeing the acceptance coming from all affected prospective members. A business model aimed towards sustainability will be compiled along with a committee is going to be commissioned to represent and govern members.
The Western Cape provincial government hopes to file for the maritime cluster sometime in October this coming year – as it’s Transport Month along with the partnership is often a part of your national long-term strategy envisioned with the Transport and Logistics sector’s administration – the #cocreateSA campaign. This strategy includes a give attention to port development.