The president of the Production Technologies Association of South Africa (PtSA), Tapiwa Samanga, visited Portugal on July 22 and 23 to get to know the national mould industry and identify opportunities for collaboration between companies and sector entities in the two countries. During the visit, he visited some companies in the sector, as well as its technology center (Centimfe) and training center (Cenfim).
Expressing himself "impressed by the organization and cooperation of the mould industry in Portugal", Tapiwa Samanga highlighted CEFAMOL's crucial role in uniting and coordinating companies. "As president of a business association in the sector, I couldn't fail to highlight CEFAMOL's role in Portugal," he said, considering that "moulds are incredibly well established here and manufacturers, who have known each other for many years, are able to be friends and compete in business." In his opinion, this is the result of "a strong vision and coordination, in which people compete, but also manage to work together". Something he considers "incredible" and which "is only possible through the role of a very dynamic association".
The president of the South African association also praised the joint efforts of the various entities supporting the sector, such as Centimfe and Cenfim, which develop programs aimed at the industry. "I was impressed by the number of projects and initiatives that the association develops and coordinates, with the support of the other entities; together, they develop targeted programs designed for the sector".
Regarding the opportunities that his country has for Portuguese moulds, he mentioned that "Africa is undergoing a major transformation, with a growing market full of potential".
"For a long time, we were very closed off, but that's changing. The market has a lot of potential for growth and this can be seen in the most diverse sectors, from household appliances to automobiles, among others. This represents a great opportunity for everyone," he emphasized, focusing the importance of Portugal recognizing these opportunities and of Portuguese companies taking steps to explore these markets, looking for strategic partners locally. "Companies need to take steps to find solutions to work in this market," he concluded.
