SA and Australia combine thoughts on MIDP review

ED RICHARDSON THE GOVERNMENT has announced that it will review the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP). The Department of Trade and Industry says the review will be formally launched in the first quarter of 2005 and will conclude in December 2006. The South African and Australian Governments have over the last several months held several rounds of consultations on developments in their respective automotive industries. The discussions have focused on developmental measures supporting the auto industry. The outcome of these discussions, the last of which was in Canberra on August 27, is that South Africa and Australia have now agreed to establish an ongoing cooperative process in which Australia will share its experience with South Africa during the upcoming review of the MIDP. “The objective of our cooperation in the review is to strengthen and modernise the MIDP and ensure that the South African auto industry continues to enhance its already significant contribution to the South African economy by continuously improving its capacity to compete globally in a sustainable manner, and over the long term,” says the DTI.