China has reiterated its commitment to support industrialisation in South Africa and the rest of the African continent by pledging US$50 billion towards industrialisation projects, said the department of trade and industry (dti).
The dti said in a statement today (Tuesday) that the pledge had been announced during a courtesy visit by the deputy minister of commerce in China, Zhang Xiangchen, to the director-general of the dti, Lionel October, in Pretoria yesterday (Monday).
Xiangchen said there were several new measures that the Chinese government was currently finalising to further promote industrialisation and development of the African continent as a whole.
“China-Africa industrialisation partnerships will be at the forefront of any development in the continent followed by agricultural activities. China will also increase investments in Africa, especially in the Special Economic Zones, and provide training in those sectors,” he said.
Xiangchen pointed out that the Chinese government would provide 50 technical experts in building and upgrading of industrial parks; building of new power plants; 40 000 training opportunities in different sectors; and 200 000 industrial managers to train and develop local industrial managers.
