Strengthening Strategic Partnerships for Impact in 2026-27

01 April 2026 marked a significant engagement between AIDC Eastern Cape, Productivity South Africa (PSA), and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), as we aligned priorities for the new financial year and reaffirmed our shared commitment to enterprise development and productivity improvement.

Reflecting on the past year, the relationship with Productivity SA has delivered meaningful impact through the QPI Kaizen programme and broader enterprise support interventions. Through this collaboration, AIDC-EC has played a key role in delivering and scaling these interventions across the Eastern Cape, ensuring that local automotive suppliers benefit from globally supported programmes.

Importantly, the ILO’s support of QPI Kaizen interventions, implemented in partnership with PSA, has enabled wider reach and deeper impact within the region. This model of collaboration continues to demonstrate the value of integrating international support with national coordination and regional delivery capability.

As part of the engagement, PSA, ILO, and AIDC-EC conducted site visits to automotive suppliers that participated in the Green Economy training and QPI Kaizen projects, providing first-hand insight into the tangible impact of these interventions on operational performance and sustainability practices.

Looking Ahead

Discussions focused on strengthening and expanding collaboration through:

• Enhanced programme delivery via initiatives such as Workplace Challenge and Business Turnaround and Recovery (BTNR)

• Increased support to SMMEs, particularly within the automotive and aftermarket value chain

• Leveraging Digital Kaizen and innovation-driven approaches to improve enterprise competitiveness

• Strengthening referral systems and cluster-based support models to maximise reach and impact

Elevating Stakeholder Engagement and Visibility

AIDC-EC and PSA also explored opportunities to further strengthen joint stakeholder engagement through:

• Co-hosted events and Workplace Challenge milestone platforms within the Eastern Cape

• Participation in industry activations and ecosystem engagements

• Collaborative marketing and communication initiatives to enhance visibility and showcase impact

  
  

A Shared Commitment to Sustainable Impact

A key takeaway from the engagement is clear: achieving sustainable and scalable impact requires not only financial investment, but also strong partnerships, aligned execution, and shared accountability.

With a dedicated strategic planning session scheduled, the partners are well-positioned to translate these engagements into practical, high-impact interventions that support inclusive economic growth and industrial development in the Eastern Cape.

AIDC-EC remains committed to strengthening this partnership as a strategic delivery platform for productivity improvement and industrial competitiveness in the Eastern Cape.