A total of 3 384 private sector enterprises across all provinces have been assisted with projects to the value of R13.6 billion, through incentive schemes and other programmes of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) during the 2013/14 financial year.
This came to light when the Director-General of the dti, Lionel October, addressed incentive beneficiaries and stakeholders at the Incentives Beneficiaries Profiling event, held at Cape Town City Hall.
“In a highly competitive global economy, creating an enabling environment for local and foreign investments is paramount to business and economic growth,” said October.
He added that performance reporting on the incentive programmes is integral to the department’s service delivery strategy.
“Today’s event is a clear report detailing the dti’s support to enterprises, large and small, across provinces, sectors and different groups. The substantial contribution by the department to enterprise and industrial development and investment, is the continuous provision of a diversified incentive package that supports Government priorities such as broadening participation,” said October.
Over the last three years of the implementation of the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP), the department’s incentive and other programmes have impacted profoundly on corporate behaviour, with beneficial outcomes in terms of investment, growth and employment in sectors such as clothing and textiles, auto-motives, business process services, and film and television production.
“I am confident that our continued effort to bring about economic transformation is inclusive and contributing to employment creation,” said October.
Project beneficiaries included Eclipse Energy, Fabrinox, Film Africa, La Ric Mal, Baxter’s Auto, Solaire Direct and Spice Mecca.
One of the incentive beneficiaries, La Ric Mal, a black-owned winemaking enterprise that benefitted from Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) Scheme and Sector-Specific Assistance Scheme (SSAS), reported an impressive job creation by their enterprise and an increase in export sales generated six months after attending a EMIA-funded international event to China.
Rudi van As of Film Africa, also a beneficiary, reported how benefiting from Film and Television Incentive and SSAS, afforded his enterprise an opportunity to produce and shoot a documentary that is now running for its second season.
The dti’s Deputy Director-General of Incentive Development Administration (IDAD), Malebo Mabitje-Thompson, said that incentives are a vital mechanism used by the department to grow the economy and these outcomes highlight the contribution made by the dti to the sustainable growth and development of the South African economy.
Broadening participation was further achieved through the approval of 786 Scheme and Sector-Specific Assistance Scheme (SSAS) and 1 012 EMIA emerging exporters to attend world-renowned exhibitions abroad, affording them the opportunity to promote their enterprises and showcase their products.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe, Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
