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13 August 2008

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mandisi Mpahlwa will deliver the keynote address at the sod-turning ceremony, to mark the launch of the Centurion Aerospace Village (CAV) Industrial Park Development, in Centurion, on 19 August 2008.

The CAV was formally established in 2006, in response to the urgent need for the creation of an aerospace supplier park, to support South Africa's innovative manufacturing processes, where anchor firms remain at the centre of the aerospace cluster, surrounded by scores of small and medium-sized producers. This supplier park is not only modelled on the successes of the local automotive industry, but also mirrors similar international parks, such as the Silicone Valley, in California, and Toulouse, in France.

The CAV, as per these established global parks, will permit small companies to be in close proximity of larger, primary South African suppliers, such as Denel and Aerosud, and facilitate the establishment of a lean supply chain, focused on aerostructure manufacturing. Not only will the project lead to increased job creation, but will also serve to accelerate the integration of small companies in the industry.

The objectives of the CAV include the development, construction and full operation of an aerospace supplier park; the upliftment of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) companies; and the repositioning of the South African aviation sector, to ensure its participation in the global aviation market.

The CAV development was made possible with the financial support of the European Union and the South African government, through the Sector-Wide Support Enterprise, Employment and Equity Programme (SWEEEP), and the fiscus, respectively. The CAV is registered as a Section 21 company, and jointly managed by the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) and industry, at the board and operational levels.

The CAV has been designed to unlock the growth potential of the local aerospace and aviation industries, where local original equipment manufacturers; suppliers of components, parts and tools; as well as service providers; stand to benefit equally from synergistic and economy of scale applications. The CAV concept is not, however, limited to manufacturing, but also offers opportunities in service-related activities, including logistics, training and technology centres, shared services, and co-ordinated education, amongst others.

The CAV is located in Pierre van Ryneveld, Tshwane, on state-owned land, adjacent to Aerosud Holdings, and along the eastern boundary of the Waterkloof Air Force Base. Aerosud was selected by the dti to be the industry driver and catalyst for this development, and to place the South African Aerospace Village on the global map.

For further information, contact:
Bongani Lukhele
Tel: 012 394 1643
Cell: 078 526 8572
E-mail: blukhele@thedti.gov.za.

Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
13 August 2008