Xaba is one of the speakers at a three-day conference on the Aerotropolis Masterplan hosted by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality where the Premier of Gauteng, David Makhura, will deliver the keynote address.
The Denel campus in Kempton Park, next to the OR Tambo International Airport, has been identified as an anchor for the future growth of the Aerotropolis which seeks to stimulate economic development close to air transport hubs.
Denel Aerostructures is an advanced manufacturing enterprise which designs and produces parts for the Airbus A400M military airlifter, and shares a campus with Denel Aviation, which is the country's leading provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) solutions to the South African Air Force. The Denel Technical Academy, which trains artisans and technicians for the aerospace sector and Turbomeca Africa, a world leader in the manufacturing of gas turbines and gearboxes, are also located at the Denel campus.
Xaba says the nucleus for the growth of a fully-fledged local aerospace industry is already available at the Denel campus. This can be a catalyst for growth in the broader aviation sector to revitalise the economy of Ekurhuleni.
"Denel is excited about the benefits that an Aerotropolis will bring to job creation, skills development and the future of high-tech engineering in Gauteng," he says. 'The launch of the Aerotropolis Masterplan is another important step in reaching these objectives and Denel wants to be part of this pioneering initiative."
