Collaborating on common interests

Promoting the maritime agenda

SOUTH AFRICA: The Maritime Business Chamber (MBC) and EThekwini Maritime Cluster (EMC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective of addressing a number of critical areas in the maritime industry aimed at training, transformation and business support.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with the EMC as we believe that collaboration is key to drive advocacy for an inclusive, progressive and transformed maritime sector,” says MBC Executive Chairperson, Unathi Sonti emphasising the need to broaden the access to the industry.

“This partnership seeks to promote socio-economic growth and Maritime industry capacity building,” noted EMC Managing Director, Zenzile Gwamanda.

“This partnership seeks to promote socio-economic growth and Maritime industry capacity building.”

The MOU has several specific objectives for small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMME) within the maritime industry including the development of programmes specifically aimed at providing business support by facilitating access to financial, technical and educational resources.

The two organisations highlight the need to advocate for policies and regulations that support the growth of SMMEs and will use the MOU to develop programmes aimed at enhancing their sustainability.

With specific ambitions of exposing the industry to the youth, the partnership will work to improve education and training in the maritime sectors as well as give unemployed youth exposure to the boatbuilding sector.

According to a statement issued by the MBC, the ship repair industry offers significant opportunities for employment, but potential workers need to be better equipped to take advantage of these career paths.

“We need to improve education can training in the maritime industry and enable talented people to enter the industry,” they state.

In addition, the partnership between the two entities aims to address maritime research needs to identify specific needs, challenges and opportunities faced by the industry in order to develop actionable recommendations and strategies.

With a background in championing and advocating to bridge the gap between the private sector and government within the maritime sectors, both the MBC and EMC are intent to use this agreement as a tool to establish maritime development programmes that will “unleash the economic growth” of the blue economy.