Anna Cox THE HIGH value-add that the automotive parts and component sector holds was recently highlighted as part of the 2003 Gauteng Trade and Industry Strategy (GTIS). Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs, Jabu Moleketi, said there were many opportunities in this sector. “Duty-free access to the US market through the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act is a mechanism to encourage foreign investors to set up joint ventures with local companies. Foreign investors gain from the access to the US market and the local partners gain marketing and technical skills,” he said. Since its inception, said Moleketi, the Automotive Industry Development Cluster had done much to provide technical input for the development of the sector and to help it achieve its goal of upgrading the quality of small component manufacturing. The GTIS 2003 pursued specialist expertise and joint venture partnerships to ensure that more South African components formed part of the global value chain, he said. “Specialist expertise and joint venture partnerships are possible strategic solutions to this. There is potential to ensure that more South African components form part of the global value chain,” he said.”
