S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.3 No.11, March 20, 2017

This Newsletter is sponsored by SAFLIA

Please note: Click on any ad to go to the advertiser’s website

Urgent call to SA visitors to APLF

Report on proposed LRI to be handed over

From Ernest Heunis, chairman, Skin, Hide & Leather Council
The feasibility study on the formation of a Leather Research Institute will be officially handed over at the APLF fair in Hong Kong by the Institute for Creative Leather Technology (Northampton University) to the dti, Exotic Leather South Africa and SHALC. Interested industry stakeholders attending the APLF Hong Kong are invited to attend.
        The handover will be at the Northampton University (ICLT) stand within the UK pavilion and the number is Hall 1E-A11/UK.. Date: 29 March 2017, time 4 pm to 5 pm.
        Please let Ernest Heunis @ ernest@leatherite.co.za know if you will be attending.

Correction: Last week’s article contained inaccuracies

FLIC: Awaiting final step before starting

Pretoria (SA) – The Footwear & Leather Industries Cluster (FLIC), approved by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in January as the replacement for the National Footwear & Leather Cluster (NFLC), has still to be registered as a legal entity before it can start operating, but its focus will be on “enabling interventions” – primarily in education and training, creating value chains, technology, manufacturing best practices and systems and governance issues for the Footwear, Leather-Goods and Leather Industries in South Africa.
        FLIC will assist not only its 4 founder members – the sub-national/regional clusters – with their projects, and encourage the formation of other similar clusters, but the footwear, leather and leather-goods industry in South Africa at large.
        The 4 founding members are: the Exotic Leather SA (ELSA), the Footwear & Leather Goods Regional Cluster/Durban (aka ‘the Mr Price cluster’), the Fast Track Regional Footwear Cluster (the ‘TFG/Eddels cluster’), and the Southern Cape Regional Footwear Cluster and they will make up the interim Board of FLIC
        Once the non-profit company has been established other industry role-players and stakeholders will be invited to become members and the FLIC Board will be expanded to be representative of the entire industry
        At the founding meeting, also attended by representatives of the dti and IDC, the members appointed Ernest Heunis as interim manager. He was acting GM of the NFLC after the decision was taken to shut it down.
        The NFLC is still under forensic audit by the IDC and no decision has been taken on what will happen to the assets of the now defunct NFLC.

The 2017 S&V Directory is ready

The Directory is out. Copies for sale at R450 each. Please email tony@svmag.co.za to order.

Large African delegations to exhibit at South Africa's Footwear, Textile & Apparel Sourcing Trade Event in May

Source Africa 2017

From Deidre Harte, LTE
Cape Town (SA) – Source Africa, the world-class sourcing event that supports the growth and development of business, trade and economic opportunities in Africa, will take place on 24 & 25 May at the CTICC in Cape Town.  More than 1,500 professional decision makers will convene at the CTICC to showcase their latest ranges, products and services. The event will feature over 180 exhibitors interested in growing their exports. Countries represented already include South Africa, Mauritius, Lesotho, Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Egypt, West Africa, USA, UK, Germany, Lithuania, Turkey, India to mention a few.
        Source Africa will bring together footwear, textile, garment and fashion accessory manufacturers, buyers, suppliers and services providers in one integrated event, enabling International and African buyers to view and explore an extensive array of products and services.
          Enterprise Mauritius (EM) will lead a major delegation of 30 enterprises. The main objective behind their participation is to maintain their visibility as the ‘Preferred Next Door Partner’ and to boost exports to South Africa.
          Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) will also be showcasing the best Lesotho has to offer. A Lesotho Apparel Buyer’s Summit is planned prior to Source Africa and the full programme will be announced soon.
        International Trade Centre (ITC) and Trade Mark East Africa will be exhibiting with 10 women owned manufacturers for the first time from Kenya and a series of top class international business seminars will be hosted by WGSN (United Kingdom), UL (Germany), Picanol (Belgium) and Thies (Germany).
        Africa will play an increasingly important role in the footwear, textile and apparel industries over the next decade. International buyers are showing stronger interest and the African industry is showing an increased ability to meet demand with world class capabilities that are getting better every day.
        If you would like to EXHIBIT at Source Africa, contact the Organisers on Tel: +27 21 790 5849 or Email: deidre@sourceafrica.co.za, Visit the Show Website @ www.sourceafrica.co.za

Reader response

NULAW ‘fully committed’ to SARS forum

From Ashley Benjamin, General Secretary, National Union of Leather and Allied Workers
Pretoria (SA) – It is rather regrettable that SAFLIA adopted a stance to withdraw from this important forum. NULAW fully supports the efforts by SARS Customs Fraud unit to combat illegal imports and under invoicing despite its current challenges.
        NULAW have attempted over the past three years to convince SAFLIA to agree to develop a reference pricing system for the Footwear Industry which in our view will assist to curb the influx of illegal importation of footwear and under invoicing. If managed properly could result in increased local orders, decent job creation and increased revenue for government.
        As Labour we [are] fully committed to work with SARS to commence with a reference pricing system for the local Footwear sector with or without the support of SAFLIA. Our interaction with some of the CEO’s signals support for a reference pricing system as it will derive benefits for the local industry.
        NULAW finds it very strange why SAFLIA selectively choose to accept government support in terms of grants and incentives but is reluctant to agree to a reference pricing system as in the case of clothing and textiles.  We are still hopeful that the SAFLIA leadership will reconsider their current stance. – [+27 (0)31  206 0105, ashleybenjamin@nulaw.co.za]

Milestones

Nigel (SA) – Seton SA technical/R&D director Richard Delfel has retired after 36 years with the company.

Drought relief deliveries completed in some provinces

From Samuel Kgatla, Principal Communication Officer, Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (DAFF)
Pretoria (SA) – The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) continues to make progress in its drought relief programme currently being undertaken in eight provinces. Interventions have been made in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Mpumalanga provinces with the completed delivery of pellets, lucerne bales and molasses.
        National Treasury availed an amount of R212 million for procurement of feed for provinces declared as disaster areas. This money has been made available through the Adjusted Estimates of National Expenditure (AENE) and is for livestock feed only.
        To date, R164 258 209.41 has been spent on drought pellets, lucerne bales and molasses. More than 454 222 bags of drought pellets and 4 204 tons of lucerne have been delivered to various provinces and are being distributed to farmers.
        The Northern Cape Province received its first deliveries on 14 March 2017 in the town of Kenhardt and farmers are encouraged to go to various distribution points to collect their feed when requested by their District Managers to do so. It should be noted that only registered farmers will receive feed.
        With the recent rains, there are noticeable improvements to vegetation in most provinces and as a result, livestock conditions have improved. – [+27 (0)82 738 5237, (0)12 319 7181, SamuelK@daff.gov.za]

Birthdays this week

21/03/1970: Shuhui Liu, Chang Tong Trading, Johannesburg.
23/03/1965: Nilesh Naran, Curtolo Shoes, Laudium.
24/03/1986: Andrew Williams, Little Slipper Co., Port Elizabeth.
25/03/1974: Charl du Plessis, KKI, Oudtshoorn.
26/03/1961: Peter Meinzer, Thiel’s Shoe Shop, Windhoek.

In Memoriam this week

24/03/2011: John Lailvaux (b. 16/10/1946), Naked Feet, Johannesburg.
26/03/2002: Marie Joy Viljoen, Tuftex, Pinetown.
26/03/2011: Paolo Bresolin (b. 25/07/1944), Andreoli Shoes, Pinetown.
26/03/1994: Manfred Hanni, Hanni Leathers [now Seton AutoLeather], Nigel.

Do you have any names you’d like to add to our list of birthdays and In Memoriam? Please send the details.

ABSA Agri Trends 15/03: Hides & skins prices

The average bovine hide price over the past week was R14.25/kg green. Hide prices are determined by the average of RMAA and independent companies. “The recent strength of the currency and pressure from the demand side has been adding pressure on prices. There may also be stocks still sitting from December, which further add pressure on prices.”
        The average price for Dorper skins was R39.30/skin and Merino was R78.75/skin.

Trade Fair dates

For a list of local and international trade fairs covering footwear, leather goods, leather and PPE, visit our website: http://www.svmag.co.za/events.php

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Contact us

News & Classifieds: Tony Dickson, +27 (0)31 209 7505, tony@svmag.co.za

Next newsletter: March 27, 2017.

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