Skills dearth threatens competitiveness of SA project sector

The South African freight
forwarding industry will
have to urgently address the
lack of skills if it wants to reap
the benefits of the hundreds of
projects under way across the
continent.
According to Kintetsu World
Express managing director
Arend du Preez, there is much
opportunity across Africa in the
project sector, but the lack of
skills is challenging.
“We need to address our lack
of skills urgently. Not just in
the project cargo sector but
across freight forwarding,” he
said. “There is no short-term
solution to this problem but as
an industry we need to come
together and address it sooner
rather than later.”
He said when it came to the
projects arena, skills remained
critical. “And we are talking
about sophisticated skills that are
needed. Without skills one can’t
gain experience and without
experience there is no way we
are going to reap the benefits of
the various projects under way
on the continent.”
Also with a severe lack of
skill in the industry one is now
looking at situations where those
who are qualified are demanding
higher and higher salaries which
in turn puts margins under
threat. “It really is a ripple effect
and finally leads to people
reconsidering cargo projects
because of the logistics costs
spiralling out of control.”
Du Preez said it was time for
the industry to work on a plan,
and even consider a freight
forwarding school like those
in the legal and commercial
fraternities.
“Project cargo volumes
are growing – and while it is
extremely difficult to put a
figure to it one only has to look
at the amount of activity at the
Port of Richards Bay to know
that the volumes have increased
significantly compared to a year
ago.”
With the entire world wanting
a piece of Africa, projects are not
set to slow down in the years to
come.
“It is a sector we are extremely
optimistic about,” said Du Preez.