Oxyon takes to the stage at this key conference
“It’s been the first ‘in person’ conference that I’ve attended post hard lockdown regulations,” explained Oxyon’s Business Development Executive, Belinda Williams, “And the general feel of all the delegates in the room was pure delight at being able to communicate and share on a one-on-one basis, not over Zoom!”
The DEVAC (Development of the African Continent) INVEST AFRICA annual conference brings together decision makers from both the public and private sectors from across Africa. For the 2021 event, delegates spent two days in Cape Town at the beginning of May addressing challenges faced by the infrastructure sector in Sub Saharan Africa. As a key player in this industry, Oxyon People Solutions was invited to attend as a strategic partner.
Belinda Williams represented her Oxyon team at the event and was invited by DEVAC CEO Sean Lumbue to act as chairperson and moderator of various panel discussions. Her first panel included Dr Kgosientso Ramokgopa (Head of Infrastructure in the office of the President of South Africa), Khangeziwe Mabuza (Principal Secretary Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Eswatini) and Bodom Matungulu (delegate from the DRC’s Office of the President). The panel discussed the topic “Adequate mechanisms and approaches to infrastructure projects in South Africa”.
The second panel discussion which Belinda moderated covered “Public Private Partnerships” with Vishal Lutchman CEO of SAICE (South African Institute of Civil Engineering) and Rudolph Du Plessis of the KFW Development Bank SA. Both went exceptionally well and generated constructive discussion. Further conference attendees included the MD of PPC Cement, a senior expert from Huawei, and Her Majesty the Queen’s Trade Commissioner for Africa and many more notable guests.
The event presented an incredible opportunity to the Oxyon team, as it included both advertising and extensive outreach. The conference platform allowed all participants to share their experiences and discuss their plans for innovative solutions and potential business partnerships that will help develop or improve the future of infrastructure across Africa. Key contacts were established, and meetings were organised for future business prospects to help grow Oxyon People Solutions in the Oil & Gas and renewable energy sector.
“The development of the African Continent is close to Oxyon’s heart as we live by our motto Changing lives. Empowering Business,” explained Oxyon MD Viren Sookhun, “Our vision for the African Continent, more especially South Africa, is for the continent to exponentially grow over the next 10 to 30 years, embracing the opportunities created by 4IR and accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have a seat firmly set in this transition, as we have an extensive database of skills required to execute successful projects across various industries, including oil and gas, renewable energy, engineering, fabrication, mining and manufacturing.”
Viren continued to explain that “The recent hard lockdowns at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in most of South Africa’s working population being robbed of their livelihoods. Oxyon reached out to as many of these job-seekers as possible to screen, interview and enter them into our talent database for work opportunities at our existing and future clients.” Oxyon carries an array of talent in its database and complemented with its holistic human resource services, the team can successfully “plug-in” to projects around the country and in Africa. Oxyon ensured that the DEVAC delegation understood their capability to change lives and empower businesses in this fashion.
“Listening to and engaging with the speakers allowed me and therefore Oxyon to gain first-hand knowledge of upcoming projects and that allows us to tap into these commercial opportunities by engaging with project stakeholders throughout the value chain of from suppliers to end-users,” said Belinda.
“DEVAC gave us the platform to show the African continent that Oxyon can change lives and empower businesses,” said Viren, “We found the conference rich in information-shedding, helping to unlock opportunities for several value chains and create jobs.”
