In a press statement mailed to African Mining Brief, Stefan Otto, chairman of the Construction and Mining Equipment Suppliers Association (CONMESA), sounds positive about the mining and construction industries’ business prospects in 2016.
Condensing CONMESA members’ collective sentiment, Otto states: “In spite of tough conditions in South Africa’s mining and construction industries throughout this year and further deterioration of activity in the third quarter, there are signs that give a glimmer of hope for a more stable economy in 2016.”
Members of CONMESA believe the Government’s recent launch of Operation Phakisa should provide new business prospects and kick-start an upturn in 2016, says Otto. Operation Phakisa, derived from a Sesotho word meaning ‘hurry up’, is an initiative aimed at accelerating the delivery of economic transformation priorities, encompassed in the National Development Plan (NDP).
Besides, what gives CONMESA members’ renewed optimism are the new business opportunities that have been generated from Bauma Conexpo Africa 2015 – an international trade fair held in Johannesburg recently for construction machinery, building material machines and mining and construction vehicles.
“Over 14 000 visitors from approximately 75 countries attended this four day event, which provided the ideal platform to stimulate trading between African and international companies,” Otto remarks.
Article credits: issued by Festivas for CONMES, Edited for African Mining Brief by Jimmy Swira
