Minister Patel – We are optimistic about SA’s economic growth prospects

By Phumla Williams* [caption id="attachment_94343" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Minister of Trade Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel. with President Ramaphosa[/caption]   Pretoria, 28^th February 2022 - After a hiatus in growth prolonged by a ravaging pandemic, the global economy is back on a path to recovery. While some of the hardest hit economies including South Africa are struggling to rediscover their growth momentum, emerging green shoots in the local economy are encouraging to growth prospects. Most encouraging though is the gradual but steady realignment of supply chains across the globe which were disrupted at the height of the pandemic. And in a few months ahead, South Africa will unveil several manufacturing investments that will help to accelerate economic growth, said Minister of Trade Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel. Speaking when he launched the media campaign for the 4^th edition of the South African Investment Conference (SAIC) in Pretoria yesterday, Patel disclosed that a significant number of projects and pledges announced during the inaugural SAIC conference in 2018 were at an advanced stage. In 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa committed to raising over R1.2 trillion worth of investments over a five-year period. Subsequently he hosted three Investment Conferences during which he set out government’s policy context and reforms, to which the private sector responded with significant investment pledges totaling R774bn to date. Minister Patel said “We shall bring the country up to speed with progress made regarding implementation of most of the pledges at the 4^th SAIC, which will take place in Sandton on the 24^th of March. Of the 152 investment announcements made previously, 45 projects have already been completed, which means that the construction of the facility has been completed; or where it involves new machinery or equipment, these have been procured and installed; or that production has started.” He went on to say a 57 of the projects are currently under construction. Only 15 projects are either progressing slowly or have been put on hold due to the impact of the pandemic or economic factors. As of February 2022, those firms who have completed their reporting, have advised that R314bn (40, 6%) of the committed investment pledges have been expended. Speaking at GCIS press briefing, Anglo which in 2018 committed over R100bn worth of investments into the local economy over a five-year period, announced that it would commission an underground diamond mining operation at its flagship Venetia mine. “Our project to extend the lifecycle of Venetia Mine will finally come to bear in 2023. We have made significant progress in that regard and will also be making new pledges at the conference scheduled for the 24^th March 2022,” said Anglo Head of Strategy and Programs Mr Wimpie Pienaar. While praising government for progress made in deregulating the telecoms sector, Ms Helena Ndlovu Naspers Director of Public Policy, called on government to speed up the process to auction broadband spectrum saying it will help catalyse economic growth. “Technology and digitisation can assist small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) in accessing markets which is why Naspers is currently focused on growth of SMMEs in this regard. Accordingly, we have launched a R1.4 billion investment vehicle for early-stage tech companies and we have thus far made available R600 million to seven local companies. Ms Takalani Netshitenzhe, Chief Officer- External Affairs at Vodacom is upbeat regarding prospects for growth adding that the looming auction for spectrum would usher in birth of a new technology and competitive pricing regime in SA’s telecoms landscape. Below is a summary of some of the investment pledges announced in the previous conference by the private sector and detailing the stages of their development. Aspen The company made a pledge of R3.4 billion at the 2018 investment conference that has now been fully executed and has provided Africa with much its first vaccine manufacturing capability (for the J&J vaccine) with an estimated 160 million doses that have been produced in South Africa. The company has also built Africa’s first anaesthetic production facility, producing propofol under the brand name Diprivan, for the domestic market and exports. Mercedes Benz The company pledged R10 billion during the 2018 investment conference. An additional R3 billion was added to this total amount subsequently when the scope of the investment project was widened. This investment resulted in the local production of the new C-Class sedan from June 2021. The new C-class will be produced in three locations globally: Buffalo City in South Africa, Bremen in Germany and Beijing in China. The C-class vehicle made in South Africa will be exported to over 100 countries. WE have been advised that the investment will add approximately 597 new direct jobs with a further 2 000 in the value chain. V M Automotive In 2019, VM Automotive announced, R 426 million in a component plant in East London.  VM Automotive, a 100% black owned company that will form part of the suppliers into the C-class Mercedes. Toyota At the 2019, Investment Conference, Toyota South Africa announced a R2.43 billion investment (subsequently increased) to produce a new generation model, that will also have a hybrid vehicle variant. The Corolla Cross is the first generation of commercial-scale hybrid electric vehicle to come off the South African Assembly line on the 26^th October 2021.  The Cross will be exported to more than 40 countries across Africa. South Africa is one of six global locations for the production of the Corolla Cross. The other locations are: Thailand, Taiwan, Brazil, Japan, North America and China. More than 600 parts in the new vehicle will be produced locally. P&G In 2018, P&G made an announcement of R300 million to expand their facility in Kempton Park to introduce two additional plant lines. The new facility has been in production since late 2019 and created 90 jobs. The products are exported into the neighbouring SADC countries. P&G made a further investment pledge of R250 million at 2020 at the investment conference to expand their manufacturing facility and the warehouse. In2Foods In 2018 In2Foods announced an investment of R241 million. Located in the ORT SEZ  the In2Foods has built a state of the art 22700 m2 fresh food facility which is described as the largest in the southern hemisphere and the second largest CO2 refrigeration facility in the world, and created 600 jobs. The new facility will produce 2000 litres of soup and 10 000 pan cakes per hour. In2Foods will increase the exports of fresh products from OR Tambo International and is a largest supplier to Woolworths for fresh and prepared foods. Dr Oetker In 2020, German company Dr Oetker announced R 200 million investment in a new food manufacturing plant in Selby Johannesburg. The new plant has been completed, creating 80 new jobs expanding capacity at Dr Oetker for frozen pizzas and readymade meals supplying to the major retail chains. Bidvest In 2018 announced an R1billion investment in a LPG storage facility in Richards Bay. The 22 600 ton LPG storage facility has been commissioned and is the region’s largest import terminal. Other investments close to completion: A number of additional investments are ready to be officially launched in the next four months, some by March 2022. These include: Sappi: Expansion of Sappi Saiccor Mill announced in 2018 for R7, 7 billion. Capacity for dissolved pulp will be expanded by 110 000 tons to 890 000 tpa. Corobrik: Announced in 2019, an investment of R 800 million to build a state-of-the-art brick manufacturing facility. Capacity will be expanded 100 million bricks a year currently producing 50 million bricks at Carltonvillie, Driefontein plant. Isuzu: Launch of the of R1.2 billion plant for the D-Max bakkie in Gqeberha. Renergen: Completion of the phase 1 of the R 700 million announced in 2019 in Virginia, Free State. Commercial operations will start in April 2022 to produce liquid helium and liquefied natural gas. Sandvik Mining: Announced in 2020 for R 287 million expansion of remanufacturing and warehouse facility in Kempton Park. Dimension Data: R 875 million Data Centre in Johannesburg announced in 2020. *GCIS Director General and SA Cabinet Spokesperson