Skills development is instrumental in achieving industrial transformation – Deputy Minister Masina
The Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) and Black Industrialists Policy Framework that will be unveiled next week at the Black Industrialist Indaba, loudly recognise skills development as a key instrument in achieving industrial transformation and inclusive employment. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mzwandile Masina. He was speaking at the skills summit hosted in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape today.
According to Masina, IPAP should be underpinned by the recognition for skills development as an indispensable part of industrial transformation and a drive for job creation. He also said the new Black Industrialists Programme Policy Framework proposes skills development measures to be part of the outcomes-based requirements for government funding of private sector enterprises.
“The development of a skilled and highly capable labour force is amongst the key drivers of this process of industrial transformation. Our ambitions as government for industrial development recognize the need for the development of a skills base that embraces technological advances and modernization in industrial techniques,” he added.
Masina said this recognition included the need to develop advanced skills in new technologies in line with the changes in technological instruments employed in various sectors of industry including the energy co-generation.
He praised platforms like the skills summit which are organised around the need to foster multi-stakeholder dialogue on issues of development and training.
The summit was organised by the Department of Higher Education and Training together with the Energy and Water Services Sector Education and Training (EWSETA), and Further Education Training Institutions in the West Coast.
Deputy Minister Mr Mzwandile Masina addressing stakeholders at the skills summit held today in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape.
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