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Imd Keynote Address

Productivity SARef: https://productivitysa.co.za/2026/07/03/imd-keynote-address/

Official source

Source domain: productivitysa.co.za

Collected on 13 July 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

Our copy (archived 20 July 2026)Official source

What this means

This document is the keynote address written by Samantha Absol for the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026 launch hosted by Productivity SA. The speech (delivered by Ms Bahumi Matebesi, DDG: Corporate Services, Department of Employment and Labour) was presented in a virtual opening and greetings programme on 19 June 2026. It discusses South Africa’s competitiveness challenges as reflected in the IMD rankings, argues that productivity is the missing link to competitiveness and economic recovery, and calls for coordinated reforms aligned with South Africa’s Medium-Term Development Plan (2024–2029), including labour market reforms, skills alignment, enterprise productivity support (especially for SMMEs), and infrastructure/investment coordination.

Facts

Reference

https://productivitysa.co.za/2026/07/03/imd-keynote-address/

Key Takeaways

  • Event: IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026 Launch
  • Type: Keynote address (virtual opening and greetings programme)
  • Date: 19 June 2026
  • Author/credited: Samantha Absol
  • Speaker: Ms Bahumi Matebesi, DDG: Corporate Services, Department of Employment and Labour
  • Host/partner: Productivity SA in partnership with the Institute for Management Development (IMD)
  • Core claim: Productivity is the missing link in South Africa’s competitiveness and economic recovery
  • South Africa competitiveness issues cited: labour market efficiency, investment attractiveness, infrastructure constraints, business environment effectiveness
  • South Africa relative strengths mentioned: improvement possible with policy consistency and institutional effectiveness
  • Policy alignment: Medium-Term Development Plan (2024–2029)
  • Reform priorities listed: labour market reforms; skills development aligned to labour market demand; enterprise productivity support (SMMEs); infrastructure and investment coordination
  • Productivity SA
  • Institute for Management Development (IMD)
  • IMD World Competitiveness Centre
  • Ms Bahumi Matebesi
  • Department of Employment and Labour
  • Samantha Absol
  • Medium-Term Development Plan (2024–2029)

Dates

Closing Date

19 June 2026