Collaboration seen as key to unlocking South Africa’s industrial potential

The revival of South Africa’s flagging manufacturing sector is core to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s broader economic recovery plan. The importance attributed to manufacturing can be seen in the President’s decision to appoint the experienced Ebrahim Patel to lead the newly restructured Trade and Industry portfolio, which re-consolidates the Department of Trade and Industry with the Economic Development Department. There is also a growing recognition within government that, despite having the most diversified and industrialised economy in sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa’s manufacturing performance is lacking vibrancy, even when compared with some of its African peers.