The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ms Nomalungelo Gina says the sector-specific Master Plans that are driven by the socio-economic pact comprising of organised labour, business and government are paying dividends in regards to job creation, economic transformation, localisation and sustaining jobs. Gina was speaking during the Budget Vote of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) last Friday.
Master Plans are action-orientated policies, geared towards boosting local jobs and developing local value chains. the dtic has thus far developed industry Master Plans in six sectors, namely Automotive; Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather (CTFL); Sugar; Poultry; Steel and Metal Fabrication; and Furniture. These master plans are in various stages of implementation. Together these industries account for 6% of South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 25% of exports and employ nearly 700 000 workers.
The master plans are a social compact with each sector of society – Business, Government and Organised Labour – working towards improving their industrial capacities and sophistication, focusing more on export orientation, skills development, greening the economy and reclaiming domestic market space lost to imports.
Gina described the master plans as key pillars of re-industrialising the South African economy, saying government was impressed that there was no stakeholder in all economic sectors that is not committed to the re-industrialisation agenda, hence the tangible progress and achievements registered in the implementation of the plans.
Gina said the dtic has supported 11 projects in the value chain of the Steel Masterplan, resulting in disbursements to the value of R209 million. In the process, R1.3 billion were investments were leveraged and 2 439 jobs were supported.
“In the Poultry Masterplan, 10 Black contract growers have been established leveraging investment of R336m, with 122 new jobs created. In the Sugar Masterplan, Shoprite is partnering with the South African Cane Growers to promote the sale of locally produced sugar in its 1 189 stores, while in the Automotives Masterplan, the Automotive Industry Transformation Fund is supporting six companies with funding of R82m, but more importantly, access to orders of R1.8 billion,” said Gina.
She conceded that the tripartite engagement between government, business and organised labour, often got intense on the terms of the ultimate goal of the plans and how to reach there in terms of targets, but ultimately all parties emerged as committed to the implementation.
“We are generally encouraged by the collegiality and commitment in all sectors that we have achieved the signings of the Masterplans, after extensive engagements. We see no retreat and backhand outmaneuvering by some stakeholders,” noted Gina.
Enquiries:
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
Mobile: 079 5083 457
WhatsApp: 074 2998 512
E-mail: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
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