German chancellor honours commitment
December 2007
News
Endress+Hauser believes that training is the key to the future development of the South African economy and actively supports this initiative in the field of industrial automation.
It, together with other suppliers, installers and users in the field of industrial automation has joined the Automation Training Council, an initiative of the Profibus User Group of Southern Africa. Its intention is to train young automation specialists in the widely used industrial communications technology, Profibus. In August, 24 attendees completed the first introductory course in Industrial Data Communications hosted by Endress+Hauser in Sandton, Johannesburg.
"Within less than a year, we want to train at least 96 students nationwide," says Nico Marneweck, training manager, Endress+Hauser South Africa and training coordinator for the Automation Training Council.
Nine students and lecturers have completed the initiative's second course recognising them as Internationally Certified Profibus Installers. They received their diplomas from German chancellor Ms Angela Merkel, at a banquet hosted by the Southern African German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Johannesburg. Dignitaries included German minister of Economic Cooperation and Development, Ms Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, the South African minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mandisa Mpahlwa, the president of the Southern African German Chamber, Mr Leo Roehrig, and the president of the South African Chamber BUSA, Mr Patrice Motsepe.
German chancellor, Ms Angela Merkel; training coordinator, Nico Marneweck (right); South African minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mandisa Mpahlwa (third from right) and Dieter Dilchert, chairman of the Profibus User Group of Southern Africa (third from left) honour the new Certified Profibus Installers
The German Chancellor honoured the commitment of the companies involved in the Automation Training Council. South Africa is in the focus of Germany's official development cooperation. The German government financially supports the training of automation specialists: Germany provides matching funding up to 1,6 million South African rand for every rand contributed by the companies involved. The training initiative supports the broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE), promoted by the South African government, and emphasises Endress+Hauser's corporate social responsibility.
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