Offerings and products of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization Subcontractor and Partnership Exchange programme have been incorporated into the Technology Localisation Implementation Unit of the Department of Science and Technology. The SPX Programme recently reported a significantly positive impact on local industrial manufacturing companies.  Ashley Bhugwandin, who heads up the TLIU hosted at the CSIR, says that the programme’s work in terms of its industry database, benchmarking, access to assistance with supplier development/competitiveness improvement and matchmaking has contributed to localisation efforts and will support the mandate of the TLIU.

The DST has integrated the UNIDO-SPX programme products and offerings into the TLIU so that localisation efforts can be strengthened and greater impact can be realised.  The goal is to ensure that the TLIU support the various government initiatives from a localisation and supplier development point of view. In as much as the UNIDO-SPX function has been integrated into the TLIU, the unit will define how some of the functions conducted under UNIDO-SPX will be handled into the future.

“The DST’s goal for the TLIU is to deliver technology interventions to South African companies to enhance their competency and competitiveness as service providers to the State Owned Companies. The synergy between the work that has already been done and our focus is exciting. We look forward to integrating some of the key strategic offerings by UNIDO SPX.” explains Bhugwandin. UNIDO SPX is a technical cooperation programme that linked domestic enterprises in developing countries to the supply chains of large domestic or international companies. The aim of the programme is to develop local industry capacity to meet buyer needs and to identify profitable business opportunities for them.  This mandate created the opportunity for the SPX offerings and products to be integrated into the TLIU to expand the impact on localisation.

The TLIU has set an ambitious goal to target 150 companies over the next three years, which stand to benefit through its localisation interventions. The TLIU offers company assessments, technology  platforms or shared technology facilities and access to technical expertise. High-end technical skills development programmes form part of the TLIU’s bouquet of services, as do design and tooling support and assistance with offset programmes or technology transfer benefits.

The technology interventions provided by the TLIU are targeted at sectors or industries predominantly related to government procurement, such as energy, transport, aerospace and defence, megascience projects, and the foundry industry. “Ultimately, the achievement of the goals of the Technology Localisation Programme will result in expanded local manufacturing capability, resulting in increased industrial activity,” concludes Bhugwandin. “A competitive local manufacturing and services industry helps to grow the economy, establish and retain decent jobs and reduce the dependency on imports.”