Erwin calls on SA to build globally competitive industries

RAY SMUTS IF SOUTH Africa is to meet its international investment requirements, re-organising the manufacturing sector is a top priority, says public enterprises minister Alec Erwin. Addressing the Cape Times/Safmarine Breakfast Club in Cape Town last week, the minister said enhanced technical training and development of the country’s own supplier industries were “absolutely imperative”. “South African business should no longer think if equipment is required the answer simply lies in importing,” he said. “You may not find it or if you find it, it may be so expensive you cannot afford it. We have to build internationally competitive industries in South Africa, across the whole spectrum. “There should be no expectation that we are prepared to accept high prices and poor quality because we are going to buy South African. It has to be internationally competitive.”