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Sasol has partnered with Professor Douglas Boateng of the Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) and the PanAvest Partnership to publish a series of books on executive supply chain management aimed at developing sorely needed supply chain skills in Africa. From September 2014, over 7000 of the first book in the executive insight series are being distributed at no charge to the continent�s supply chain fraternity, selected government departments, management and business schools in South Africa and the rest of the continent. Ghana shall be getting their free copies mainly through Public Procurement Authority Sasol was established in 1950 in South Africa and remain one of the country�s largest investors in capital projects, skills development and technological research and development. The company among the top ten largest companies listed on the JSE Limited in South Africa. It is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange in the US. It is one of the world�s largest producers of synthetic fuels. It mines coal in South Africa and produce natural gas and condensate in Mozambique, oil in Gabon and shale gas in Canada. �The books will increase executive awareness of the inextricable link between supply chain management and South Africa, and the rest of the continent�s long term industrialisation, job creation government service delivery quality efforts,� says Prof Boateng, Founder and CEO of the PanAvest Partnership. �The developed world has successfully used Supply Chain Management to industrialise, improve government service delivery quality, create sustainable jobs, undertake value addition to their resources and to promote SMME growth. I believe that with long-term collective supply chain thinking, Africa can do the same.� Dr Renosi Mokate, Executive Director and CEO of SBL, said the institution was pleased to be the first on the continent to be receiving the books. �SBL will continue to collaborate to develop professional supply chain management skills in both the public and private sector. Improved skills at executive level are vital to foster positive socio-economic change in Africa. Effective Supply Chain Management is a key component of the future industrialisation of South Africa, as well as the rest of the African continent.� Prof Boateng highlights that in South Africa, statistics released by the Department of Trade and Industry confirm that 70% of small businesses fail within the first year. �We need to protect these small businesses to stem our soaring unemployment rates. I believe that inclusive Afro-centric supply chain strategies and innovative partnerships between the public and private sector can go a long way to address these issues.� Sasol is one of the country�s largest investors in capital projects, skills development and research. �We value Sasol�s support for this project as it will assist with executive skills development as well as driving awareness of the strategic importance of effective supply chain management,� says Boateng. �Without world-class executive professional skills, coupled with a coherent and long-term Supply Chain Management strategy, South Africa won�t be able to achieve its 2030 vision.�