R200 Billion Localisation Plan For South Africa – With Talk Of Blocking Some Imported Products

TRADE and Industry minister Ebrahim Patel says that his department’s localisation strategy is gaining increasing traction, and has now received the support of 30 local chief executives from companies such as Clicks, Anglo American and Sasol.

Presenting his departmental budget speech to parliament on Tuesday (18 May), Patel said the strategy would see the localisation of up to R200 billion of additional production over a five year period.

“An initial list of 42 products have been identified for localisation, and R240 million has been raised from the private sector to appoint technical experts to drive localisation, bringing together industrial engineers, supply-chain managers, experts in dealing with illegal imports, and project managers,” he said.

Patel said that government would also increase its exports through trade with the rest of the world.

“Trade policy needs to be a source of new jobs and expansion of the industrial economy. Last year, we secured