PRODUCTIVITY IN AFRICA – ROUNDTABLE CONFERENCE

Productivity is regarded as a key factor in improving competitiveness, economic growth and prosperity for any nation. Consequently, in order to promote socio-economic development in Africa, Productivity SA of South Africa in association with Pan African Productivity Association and Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) will host a Roundtable Conference in Johannesburg from 28 – 31 August, and delegates from Asia and Africa will be attending. The Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana will provide the keynote address.

This unique gathering is the first APO-Africa co-operation partnership programme under the special fund provided by the Japanese government. Various countries will share their experiences on the role of national productivity organizations (NPO’s) in national economic development through the productivity movement and formulate master plans of action.

“This partnership was initiated by Productivity SA in order to fast-track the transfer of productivity skills to both South Africa and the rest of Africa,” comments Productivity SA Executive Director, Dr Yvonne Dladla, adding “The outcome of the conference is to develop a masterplan with a clear programme of action for the next five years, ensuring tangible outcomes to the partnership”.

The APO will primarily aim to assist African countries in promoting socio-economic development based upon their own initiatives and self-reliant efforts. More specifically, the APO will give high priority to the promotion and support of national productivity movements, initially through Productivity SA, by sharing and transferring a wide range of Asian experiences. The successful experience in Asia clearly shows that human resources development should constitute part and parcel of the productivity movement. It is therefore indispensable to develop and strengthen NPO’s as apex bodies to spearhead the movement in each country, with the involvement of all stakeholders including government, business corporations, trade unions, academia, and NGOs.

Highlights on the programme include :

• Asian Productivity Organization–The past, present and future, by Mr.Yoshikun Ohnishi, Consultant, Asian Productivity
• Japan’s Productivity Movement, Labour-Management Cooperation and Gain-sharing scheme, Impact on Japanese Economy, by Professor Akira Goshi, Professor, Nihon University
• International Experience of Technical Cooperation on Productivity: Mr. Yasuhiko Inoue, Director for International Development, JPC-SED
• Productivity Marathon: Experience of Singapore, Mr. Low Choo Tuck, Principal Consultant, Eunison Network Pte Ltd. and Management Committee Member, Singapore Productivity Association
• Thailand’s Competitiveness: Creating the Foundations for Higher Productivity, Mr. Phanit Laosirirat, Executive Director, Thailand Productivity Institute
• Green Productivity for Integrated Community Development , Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Hang, Vice President, Institute for Technology and Development SENA, Vietnam
• Strategies towards Promotion of Productivity and Quality Initiatives for Competitiveness, Ms. Nik Zainiah Nik Abdul Rahman, Director General, National Productivity Corporation, Malaysia
• National Economic Development and the Role of NPO, Mr. Saquib Mohyuddin, Former Chief of National Productivity Organization, Pakistan

African countries from Botswana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia will also present the status of productivity movements in their respective countries.

For more information e-mail papa@productivitysa.co.za or call on +27 11 848 5300.

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