The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Fikile Majola, attended a meeting with the Vaal Business Forum in Vanderbijlpark on Tuesday 20 June 2023 to address the challenges business are faced with in the Emfuleni Local Municipality. The aim of the meeting was to address the burning issues which make it difficult for businesses in the area to operate to their full potential. The Vaal Business Forum (VBF) was established in 2022 and is a mouthpiece for businesses in the area.
Members of the VBF include ArcelorMittal South Africa, Air Products, Cape Gate, Greif, Kingsley Beverages, Nampak, CWI-Wire, Collect-a-Can and Ceramic Industries. The meeting was attended by the CEO of ArcelorMittal South Africa, Kobus Verster, MD of Air Products, Robert Richardson and representatives from the other businesses.
During the meeting, stakeholders who represent businesses in the area were able to highlight their concerns and suggest ways to resolve the burning issues. Energy and transportation, water and sanitation, crime and corruption were highlighted as the key areas of concern.
Deputy Minister Majola indicated that he will avail himself actively participate to assist businesses to overcome the challenges in the area and to re-establish the Vaal as the strong industrial hub that it used to be in the past. The main aim is to involve stakeholders from local as well as national government and businesses to allocate
resources and implement measures to eradicate the obstacles and re-invent the area as an attractive option for investors.