Business leaders in South Australia have reacted positively to the challenges arising from Holden’s 2017 closure, says the head of financial services group KPMG.

“What’s happened in the economy gives us a real chance to work together, but the real message for me is how we can engage the citizens of South Australia in this process,’ KPMG’s chief executive Con Tragakis said.

Speaking after the Committee for Economic Development (CEDA) Beyond2017 forum at Adelaide Oval’s William Magarey Room earlier this week, Tragakis said more leadership was required at political and business levels to engage the community.

He was supported in his view by the state’s Economic Development Board chairman Raymond Spencer and prominent SA businessman David Klingberg.

“The message is that we must act and act now to build on our opportunities,” Spencer said.

“The worst of times can be the best of times,” Klingberg added.

The forum attracted close to 500 business people to assess the state’s prospects in the context of the closure of car manufacturers Holden and Toyota.