Page 11 - KZN Business Sense - Hantie Plomp

PGDIP MANUFACTURING FOCUSED

GRADUATION

Dr Lisa Kinnear, with three of the manufacturing
Academic Director, students achieving distinctions:
Toyota Wessels Shiraz Dawood, David Frew and
Institute for Siphathisiwe Sibanda.
Manufacturing Graduation day reflects the
Studies (TWIMS)
personal accomplishment for
each and every student, not
W hen forgetting their families behind
the scenes who have supported
our
them on the journey. But as a
students class of manufacturing students
embark on on the TWIMS campus, these
their two-year students are part of something
journey of the bigger. The leadership lessons
GIBS manufacturing focused learnt on the programme
MBA on the Toyota Wessels will play a role in shaping
Institute for Manufacturing teams, organisations and the
Studies (TWIMS) campus, they manufacturing industry which
arrive excited, apprehensive and they are part of. These graduates
slightly overwhelmed. They have are ambassadors of responsible
chosen to do something which management in a sector which
takes courage and commitment to is critical to the prosperity of
achieve their dreams. our country and the continent.
Having achieved this first
These students have milestone we know they have
demanding jobs already and what it takes to join our alumni
family responsibilities, but in making an impact.
they have bravely elected to study: the first, the PGDip which digital disruption, lean operations As faculty attending, it is an
invest in their development. is the equivalent of an Honours and resilient supply chains. In honour to witness students you Congratulations PGDip
Each individual student has an year, which then enables students partnership with GIBS, the degree have taught walk across the stage manufacturing class of 2023! 
extremely personal reason as to proceed to the Masters year. has been offered on the TWIMS and receive the degree they have
to why they are pursuing the The programme is offered by campus for the past five years. worked so hard for. For more information visit
degree. But all students want a GIBS on the TWIMS campus On 16 April 2024 we celebrated In its short five years, the www.twims.co.za
quality, transformative learning in Kloof, Durban. In the two the fifth cohort of manufacturing manufacturing focused PGDip
experience, not simply letters to years, students learn general students reaching their first and MBA has produced some
their name. Graduations are a business leadership skills infused milestone in their journey – the outstanding results, claiming
celebratory culmination of this with manufacturing specialised manufacturing focused PGDip. several overall top student
deeply personal learning journey. subjects which expose them to The sun was shining of the awards, research awards and
a range of critical issues in the
The manufacturing focused sector, such as: sustainability, University of Pretoria campus subject prizes. The PGDip class
MBA comprises two years of and the atmosphere was jubilant. of 2023 lived up to the standard

AFRICA’S SHARE OF GLOBAL TRADE IS GROWING

Luke Muller, Research of 0.3% since 2003. WTO data neighbouring countries and efficient, high-capacity ports, to sources and the diversification
Manager, TWIMS (Toyota (recorded since 1948) indicates regional economic communities. enable the trade of value-added of trade partners could help
Wessels Institute for that this is the first time that South Africa’s share of global goods. By addressing bottlenecks to mitigate against trade
Manufacturing Studies) Africa’s share of exports has ever imports and exports has in the ports and encouraging restrictions in the long-term.
increased. There has previously remained steady at 0.5% since regional trade, African countries The odds are in Africa’s
rade been a steady decline in Africa’s 2003 but there are substantial can tap into the global demand favour for increasing its share
between share which started from 7.3% possibilities to boost intra- for manufactured goods. of global trade in the coming
Tall in 1948. African trade with the correct There are threats to Africa’s decades, although this will
countries in The downward trend has policies and infrastructure. trade growth, especially trade require proactive measures
2022 totalled reversed and there are a few Manufacturing is a vital restrictions. For instance, the by African industries and
approximately reasons to expect Africa’s role component of modern trade. European Union’s Carbon governments. Africa can move
$31 trillion. in global trade to expand even Manufactured goods represent Border Adjustment Mechanism away from predominantly
The total further in coming decades. the largest share of goods (CBAM) targets specific goods exporting resources and increase
value can Continued urbanisation will exports (63%) followed by fuels that are deemed too carbon the sophistication and value-
be separated into $24.2 trillion allow for labour specialisation, and mining products (21%) intensive. Given that most addition of export products by
worth of goods and $6.8 trillion and this combined with steady agricultural products (10%) developing nations are relying putting manufacturing, and a
worth of services, according population growth will lead to and other goods including gold, on fossil fuels as their primary stable, enabling environment
to World Trade Organisation greater goods production and arms and ammunition (6%). source of energy, any trade for industries at the forefront
statistics. Goods dominate trade between urban centres. If Container shipping and the trade restrictions targeting CO₂ will of priorities. Africa’s share of
global trade and comprise all the aim to gradually create an of manufactured goods go hand ultimately lower trade from global trade is already growing,
manufactured, fuel, mining, African Continental Free Trade in hand. The number of 20-foot developing regions. All traded and that trend is expected to
agricultural, and other products. Area Agreement (AfCFTA) is equivalent units (TEUs) handled goods have a carbon footprint continue. 
The collective countries that even partially realised, this will in ports around the world and could potentially be taxed,
make up Europe top the list for further expand the continent’s has continued to show steady but the short-term objective of
exports and imports by value, trade opportunities. Many growth and will soon reach over CBAM is to target subjectively References:
WTO: World Trade Statistical Review
followed by Asia, and North African countries are aiming to 900 million TEUs. The world’s selected goods including iron, 2023
America. All African countries gradually lower tariff barriers, busiest container ports help to steel, aluminium, plastics and TIPS: POLICY BRIEF: 1/2023
only contribute to 2.7% of global natural trade barriers, and service manufacturing hubs, organic chemicals. Continued UNCTAD: Handbook of statistics 2023:
exports by value, but it is worth other non-tariff barriers with this outlines the importance of investment in renewable energy Maritime transport indicators
noting that this is an increase UN: Review of Maritime Transport 2023

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