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Minister urges ICT, research investment


Cape Town, 28 Nov 2005

South African companies need to invest more into technology and technological research in order to remain globally competitive, says science and technology minister Mosibudi Mangena.

Speaking at the launch of the Western Cape`s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy (AMTS) last week, the minister said local industry was not investing enough into such research.

"As a result we have been reduced to mere consumers in a technologically-driven global market," he said.

The AMTS initiative is driven by the Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

Its main objective is to strengthen the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector through the introduction of innovative, technology-based systems in the manufacturing sector.

The major aim is to encourage the production of high quality products such as clothing, crafts, electronics, food, metals and engineering.

The Western Cape is launching this strategy against a backdrop of a shrinking manufacturing sector largely as a result of competition from foreign industries. However, the ICT sector has grown significantly and is now the second largest formal employer in the province after tourism.

Tasneem Essop, Western Cape MEC for environment, planning and economic development, said AMTS would ensure technology was accessible to all firms, in a move to keep them competitive and sustainable.

"The strategy will contribute in increasing competitiveness, thereby creating jobs and reducing poverty.

"For us to benefit more from the strategy, we will need to move very quickly towards implementing it," Essop said.