Skills boost for emerging auto firms City, Cogta sign MOU with MBSA

SMALL businesses in BCM’s automotive trade are set for a boost. A small, medium and microsized enterprises skills development programme spearheaded by Mercedes-Benz SA (MBSA) will see emerging firms involved in the automotive sector being capacitated with skills on how to crack the industry and take advantage of opportunities that exist within MBSA.

The initiative forms part of a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between MBSA, BCM and the provincial cooperative governance and traditional affairs department (Cogta). Signed at the East London City Hall yesterday by BCM Mayor Xola Pakati, new MBSA CEO Andreas Engling and Cogta’s Craig Goliath, it will see the involved parties working together towards the metro’s green city initiative, skills development and initiatives to attract more investors.

As part of the deal, the car manufacturing giant – which has made the metro its home for 70 years – will, while supporting the metro’s strategic vision of a green city, invest in BCM and skills development as well as marketing the city as an investment destination.

MBSA will also assist the metro in developing virtual technologies to enable capabilities in line with its vision of being a logistics hub.

In turn, BCM will maintain a conducive environment for MBSA to provide such support, make resources available where necessary, and ensure that sustainable municipal services are rendered in the MBSA plant on the West Bank.

MBSA is also set to work closely with the city in relation to the metro’s Growth and Development Strategy vision 2030 and provide guidance on the development of a performance management system.

According to the MOU, the parties will also work together on other projects in MBSA’s areas of interest.

They will also collaborate on an Adopt-a-Tree project meant to promote conservation of open spaces, particularly in the Orange Grove and Sunnyridge areas west of East London.

Upgrading the Nahoon Estuary Boardwalk, lighting up the pedestrian bridge and rockface at the Steve Biko Bridge and unlocking social housing projects where MBSA employees could benefit also form part of the partnership’s goals.

Speaking at yesterday’s MOU signing, MBSA corporate affairs manager Feliciano Janneker said over the years the parties had enjoyed a “mutually beneficial relationship” that had allowed MBSA to grow and sustain its local manufacturing footprint, and thus contribute to job creation and to economic and skills development in the region.

“Through this new MOU we reiterate our commitment to working with both BCM and Cogta on initiatives that will help the region attain its metro growth development goals and contribute to nation-building,” said Janneker.

Pakati said he hoped other big companies would emulate MBSA and partner with the metro to form initiatives “for the betterment of our communities”.