Introduction
THE PATHWAY FOR SA INC INTO THE FUTURE

In order to facilitate a marked increase in the exporting of SA Professional and Construction services and capital goods, South African supplier companies are more than capable to ensure the successful participation in and implementation of some of the already identified regional infrastructure projects.

To be globally competitive both BEPEC, the other members of the Engineering & Technology Grouping of Export Councils (Private Sector), and Trade Invest Africa (TIA) at the dti (Public Sector), are now starting to realize the importance of adopting a SA Inc. approach when bidding or tendering on projects in the region.

It is therefore critical that South African companies, representative institutions, and policy makers develop a clear strategy for regional engagement which would claw back lost ground and entrench us in the region as a whole, taking into account that many of the competing countries can mobilize resources that South Africa does not have access to.

The South African Public Sector (the dti) launched their Trade Invest Africa (TIA) initiative in July 2016 to promote the SA Inc vision through the facilitation of market access and funding access to infrastructure projects, by means of the following:

• Productive government to government negotiations and agreement on requirements and standards for regional infrastructure projects.
• Unlocking of participation potential in infrastructure projects along the North-South Corridor (NSC) by updating previously conducted studies.
• Re-implementation of sector focused ad hoc missions into the region.
• Interest make-up schemes.
• Possible creation of a South African EXIM Bank.

The dti is now fully committed to adopting a SA Inc approach towards securing SA participation in large regional infrastructure projects.

The Private Sector is also making a meaningful contribution towards adopting a practical and fully workable SA Inc approach, which will enable the forming of relevant sector specific and specialist technical EPC consortiums, as well as the facilitation and realization of funding requirements (therefore EPC + F), when preparing RFP’s or tendering on regional infrastructure projects.

To this end BEPEC, with assistance from the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and endorsement from the dti, has embarked on a campaign to diversify and expand its exporter base, and to develop and introduce additional categories of membership to include other Built Environment disciplines such as Contracting Services, Town Planners, Land Surveyors, etc.

Further to the above, the Built Environment Professionals Export Council (BEPEC) is now proud to announce that we are now broadening our membership base to include the Contracting Services Sector.

This newly expanded Export Council, which will be re-named and re-branded soon, will function as a united SA Inc focused Council which will assist its Professional and Construction Services member companies and consortiums to access infrastructure projects in Africa. This will allow members not only to partake in this, but also in all other BEPEC export promotion activities and initiatives. It will also allow these companies to benefit from the various export promotion incentive schemes offered by the dti.

All firms who wish to improve their knowledge and expertise in the following areas should attend: