needed: businesses to drive the sa economy - energy storage companies

IDC is looking for a new generation of black entrepreneurs to make things that are willing to roll up their sleeves and get the hands of Geoffrey tyif Qhena, CEO of industrial development (IDC)
His investment decisions will surprise you.
He believes that South Africa and the rest of the continent are a world of opportunity, but only if you know where to look.
"If I were an entrepreneur, I would invest 50% in manufacturing.
I will invest the remaining half in the tourism industry and the other half in the new industry: What we see now is small, but we will see that the future will become bigger, he said.
Although spending most of his fictional entrepreneur's budget on manufacturing may sound risky to some, it is perfectly reasonable for Qhena.
"We have resources in South Africa, and in general, most of the resources can be used for manufacturing.
We are very close to very underdeveloped markets, the rest of the continent.
So these two, for me, make sense, "he said.
"I want to make furniture, for example.
We have forestry here and forestry elsewhere in the mainland-it depends on the type of wood you need.
I looked into the continent of Africa and as the middle class grows it is developing housing, proper housing and having demand for home, which gives you this market.
"There are other untapped opportunities in the sector, such as equipment manufacturing, which is only in South Africa, and to some extent, in Egypt.
By checking where the steel works are, one can easily find this out.
But steel is now a dirty word for many people.
"I know the story of steel may not be the best right now because it goes through different cycles, but it's because we're not paying attention to the infrastructure needs of the continent," he said . ".
Manufacturing also has many advantages, "but you can't do it naively," he said ".
Qhena quoted premium-in-
Time manufacturing for target market in textile industryvolume, high-
The emphasis on output and pressing deadlines is an example of how entrepreneurs involved in traditional troubled industries can make things work for them.
"So, in manufacturing, where is your position," he said . "
"You have to be responsive, efficient and fast.
You must also be aware of your cost structure.
You have to find a better and more innovative way of making.
You have to look for a niche market.
You must be modern.
"Tourism makes many short
The term meaning of Qhena due to favorable rand/USD exchange rate.
And if you don't want to get into the hotel or accommodation business, you don't need that much capital.
"Look at the experience," said Qhena . ".
"I was in Soweto the other day and I saw this guy riding a quad bike and there were 15 tourists behind him who were all riding quad bikes and interacting with people on the street.
"It's different, it's niche," he said . ".
There are also many new industries to choose from, including the energy storage industry, which involves larger and better batteries, such as Tesla, the company of Elon Musk, which is now being manufactured.
These can solve various problems, from increasing the distance of electric vehicles to saving energy generated by power stations at night, otherwise they will be wasted.
"We have a lot of platinum and we need to create a market, so we have fuel cells here that can use it and we are looking for it," Qhena said . ".
For those who can produce cheaper medicines, there are also many opportunities for the pharmaceutical industry, and governments on the continent will be better able to afford them.
New industries are crucial, says Qhena.
"If you are not a country that constantly reshapes itself, you will be left behind," Qhena said . ".
"I was at the World Economic Forum in January and they were talking about the fourth industrial revolution, which is innovation.
"So, which departments are popular for entrepreneurs at present, and which departments are not?
In his popular column, Qhena puts renewable energy in place, because despite two huge coal --
The launch station is about to go online.
"The African continent also has a chance because there are places where the sun is better than us and there is enough water for water and electricity.
"He also has gas on his hot list, which is cheaper and greener than coal and is available for free in Mozambique next door.
"Because people always eat, whether they can afford it or not ".
"If you look closely at the continent, you will find that there is very little processing going on.
"Unlike South Africa, there is a lot of land to grow and there is a lot of rain in many areas.
But the processing is small, and the cost of investment is not as high as heavy manufacturing.
"Tourism, like manufacturing, is also a popular column, provided it is" focused, targeted and has a solid niche ".
Qhena is not comfortable with a non-hot column.
He likes not to be cold or hot.
He is mining there, where there is no clear mineral processing of raw materials.
The day to ship unprocessed minerals abroad and consider it a viable proposal is over.
The exception that Eskom needs, however, is coal.
Steel is not cold or hot.
"These things go through a cycle and you have to have deep pockets.
All of these major capital expenditure projects need to be long-term. term views.
Steel is cold in the short term, but not in the long term.
In terms of the infrastructure we need on the continent, even in South Africa we need a lot of steel.
"IDC's goal is to fund entrepreneurs who are willing to enter these and other industries in the next five years to reach the R100 billion, and in doing so, it hopes to help create 100 jobs.
Among them, the R600 is only for young people, and the R600 is only for women.
To achieve this, IDC is looking for a new generation of black industrialists, but does not need to apply for any opportunities.
"There are different types of people-some want to be investors, it doesn't matter, but we want people to make things.
If we have a guy who sleeps peacefully when the business is not working and I have sleepless nights as a funder, then it's not a black industrialist.
"We need people who are willing to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty, get involved in the business, and don't sleep when the business is slow.
Someone who is really committed to doing this.
We need real industrialists in the real sense . "