Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies
Photo by: Duane Daws
The Department of Trade and Industry on Wednesday said that over 160 tenders to the value of R54-billion had been awarded to local manufacturers and suppliers over the past year.
Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies, addressing the Buy Local Summit, in Sandton, explained that government’s Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, which designated that specific goods be locally manufactured, had unlocked the support and increased local tender uptake.
“These 2011 designated products include rail rolling stock, bus bodies, [goods produced by] the textile, pharmaceutical, clothing and leather sector, power valves, steel conveyance pipes, electrical and telecommunications cables and set-top boxes. There are more designated products in the pipelines for fruit products and steel,” he said.
Davies urged local consumers to support, buy and consume local products and goods to create jobs and grow the economy and move away from just local procurement by government.