The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Nomalungelo Gina, participated in a virtual consultative meeting with the Economic Cluster Members of Executive Council of the North West. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen collaboration for implementation of catalytic projects in the platinum province.
The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Nomalungelo Gina, participated in a virtual consultative meeting with the Economic Cluster Members of Executive Council of the North West. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen collaboration for implementation of catalytic projects in the platinum province.
The Cluster consists of the MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi: Dept of Economic Development , MEC Desbo Mohono Dept of Agriculture, MEC Gaoage Oageng Molapisi: Dept of Public Works, and MEC Motlalepula Rosho: Finance.
Deputy Minister Gina, said that Corona Virus has redefined what South Africa use to know and dictated that all citizens change, and adjust to the new normal. According to Gina, the economy has already, in this two months, taken a huge knock because of the lockdown. Gina warned that South Africans need to brace themselves for many big and small companies which will close down and retrench many employees.
She noted that the issue of localisation, extra support for SMMEs and other forms of the economy such as Social Economy are being given more attention in terms of the new thinking in government.
“Economic recovery will mean that the provincial government, in particular the Economic Development Department, must demonstrate leadership in the province to ensure that the effects of the economic downturn are not as severe as they may be. We have to correctly identify the sectors that can jerk up the economy and intervene as a state decisively to support those as provincial government.”
“This is a province that is endowed with mineral deposits. The provincial economy, notwithstanding other sectors, is essentially the mining sector driven economy. Mining, Agriculture and Tourism are the cornerstones that define, the economy of the province,” added Gina.
Gina also highlighted that the dtic has been involved in the revitalisation of industrial parks owned North West and has to date approved over R200 million through its Industrial Infrastructure delivery Programme. The programme has benefitted the rehabilitation of three industrial parks. The industrial parks under the North West have over 13000 jobs which have been sustained and are expected to increase. The occupancy rate of these industrial parks range between 72%-87% covering a wide range of businesses.
the dtic is also working with the North West government to convert the Mogwase Industrial Park into Bojanala Special Economic Zone (SEZ). To date the dtic has spent over R27 million on the project through the development of the feasibility studies and the establishment of the Project Management Unit (PMU) to drive the planning and development of the proposed zone.
“The proposed Bojanala SEZ will focus on mineral beneficiation, mining and capital equipment manufacturing, renewable energy, agro-processingzone and general manufacturing in the Mogwase Industrial Area. The SEZ has already attracted a significant investment pipeline with a value of R6.3 billion. In addition, there are already five Black Industrialists operating on site,” indicated Deputy Minister Gina.
the dtic presented an update on progress towards a Policy for the Social and Solidairity Economy. The North West Economic Cluster Members of Executive Council welcomed the update, noting previous interaction with the province on the policy development process. The province further undertook to assign an official who will act as a liaison between the province and the dtic, working to the finalisation of the policy document.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: (012) 394 1650
Mobile: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
Share this:
