The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University will stage the inaugural South African International Conference on Offsets, Counter-trade and Industrial Participation in Port Elizabeth next week.
Development Studies head at the university, Prof Richard Haines, said that offset and counter-trade agreements could be leveraged by business and local authorities “to accelerate the recovery of regions from the recession”.
Examples of such opportunities, he added, were the continued government spending on infrastructure, as well as a planned R20-billion oil refinery in Nelson Mandela Bay.
“There is a misconception that offsets are only linked to military expenditure. Most governments have a policy that there must be offsets attached to any large-scale project,” Haines said.
He said the conference would address international best practices on civilian and military offsets; promote a better understanding of the complex South African offset environment; stimulate debate and interaction among industry practitioners and other relevant stakeholders who do business on the subcontinent.
In addition, it would explore developing other Industrial Participation and partnership programmes throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and would consider how to deliver more creative “benefits focused” offset solutions.
The two-day conference will be preceded on November 11 by a one-day Executive Master Class on Offsets which will provide a primer for local and international delegates who manage and oversee corporate offset programmes led by UK offset professional, Roger Bulgin.
Speakers at the conference will include Thandi Modise, deputy secretary-general of the ANC.
