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Trade and Industry

Trade and Industry (255)

Industrial policy forms the core of TIPS’s work. In this context, TIPS supports the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), the Departmenet of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME), the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and several other departments and stakeholders with targeted studies to support policy development for industrial and trade policy as well as manufacturing growth.

TIPS undertakes research, among others, into national and regional sectors, value chains and clusters; the impact of state and private institutions on manufacturing  growth and diversification; the barriers to entry to small and medium enterprise in manufacturing; the extent and nature of innovation; and the impact of manufacturing on broader economic growth and development, income distribution and job creation.

Trade research has also been an important research area of TIPS since its establishment.  TIPS has looked at many different aspects of international trade, including country studies, trade policy, export development and the relationship between trade and industrial policy. 

See past projects

Wednesday, 31 January 2024

Comparative perspective on BRICS economies: Trade potential and limitations

  • Year 2024
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Neva Makgetla and Luthandolwethu Zondi
In 2010, South Africa joined the BRICS bloc: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. BRICS is an association of regional powers across four continents, originating from an informal alliance in trade negotiations. So far, members have signed agreements among others on customs, energy efficiency, and tax. They have also…
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Monday, 18 December 2023

South Africa in AGOA: Impact, potential and the case for renewal

  • Year 2023
  • Author(s) TIPS and COSATU
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
This paper examines the potential of a new regional framework for thinking about AGOA. It proceeds in four parts. Part 1 provides an overview of trade under AGOA, examining trends in trade, which products are traded, and profiling the tariff advantages of the programme. Part 2 looks at the bilateral…
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Monday, 14 August 2023

Localisation and industrial policy: Scopes, debates and instruments

  • Year 2023
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Neva Makgetla (TIPS)
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
Localisation has become an increasingly important part of South Africa’s industrial policy as articulated by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. At its core, it is a strategy to identify and support sectoral priorities for industrialisation. Those functions are also central to the well-known import-substitution and export-oriented models. The…
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Monday, 03 April 2023

Alignment of local economic development and industrial policy

  • Year 2022
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Neva Makgetla, Saul Levin, Rapula Diale, Itumeleng Mokoena, Mbofholowo Tsedu, Kelello Mashiane
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
This Working Paper analyses the linkages between industrial policy and local economic development planning in South Africa in terms of both economics and governance. It outlines the role of four groups of municipalities in the economy: the largest metros (Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, Cape Town and eThekwini); the five secondary…
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Thursday, 16 March 2023

Small business in industrial policy

  • Year 2023
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Neva Makgetla (TIPS)
A critical mechanism behind the unusually deep inequality in South Africa is the very small number, by international standards, of small businesses in the country. On the one hand, far fewer people earn livelihoods from their own businesses than in other upper middle-income countries. That fact largely explains South Africa’s…
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Tuesday, 14 February 2023

Black Industrialists Profiles

The Black Industrialists Policy aims to increase the participation of black South Africans in operational management, rather than just financial ownership, of enterprises in key sectors and value chains. The programme was launched in 2015 by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, supported by the Industrial Development Corporation and…
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Monday, 13 February 2023

Services and inclusive industrialisation

  • Year 2022
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Neva Makgetla with Nokwanda Maseko and Itumeleng Mokoena (TIPS)
Industrialisation cannot take off without adequate services such as logistics, engineering, finance and security, as well as human and social capital development. Moreover, the service sector generates around two thirds of the GDP and employment, and six out of seven jobs for women. An effective industrial policy, then, should incorporate…
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Tuesday, 01 November 2022

A South African perspective on climate change: From a just energy transition to climate resilient development

  • Year 2022
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Faizel Ismail (Professor and Director of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town and a TIPS Research Fellow)
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
This paper argues that South Africa needs to mainstream climate change into its National Development Plan (and Sustainable Development Goals), by advancing i) climate resilient development  through several pathways, including; ii) South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contribution commitment to a low-carbon economy; iii) renewable energy and transition to a low-carbon economy;…
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Tuesday, 01 November 2022

Enhancing industrial resilience in South Africa: Responses of Industrial Parks to COVID-19 and future pandemics

  • Year 2022
  • Organisation TIPS and GIZ
  • Author(s) TIPS
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
Support to Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones for COVID pandemic prevention and response: Enhancing industrial resilience in South Africa. The research for this project comprised three outputs: Work Output 1: Responses of Industrial Parks to COVID-19 and future pandemicsWork Output 2: Technical support to Industrial Parks on COVID-19 economic…
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Tuesday, 01 November 2022

Enhancing industrial resilience in South Africa: Technical support to Industrial Parks on COVID-19 economic recovery plans

  • Year 2022
  • Organisation TIPS and GIZ
  • Author(s) TIPS
Support to Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones for COVID pandemic prevention and response: Enhancing industrial resilience in South Africa. The research for this project comprised three outputs: Work Output 1: Responses of Industrial Parks to COVID-19 and future pandemicsWork Output 2: Technical support to Industrial Parks on COVID-19 economic…
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Published in Trade and Industry
Tuesday, 01 November 2022

Enhancing industrial resilience in South Africa: Industrial Park standard operating procedures for disaster risks reduction and response

  • Year 2022
  • Organisation TIPS and GIZ
  • Author(s) TIPS
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
Support to Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones for COVID pandemic prevention and response: Enhancing industrial resilience in South Africa. The research for this project comprised three outputs: Work Output 1: Responses of Industrial Parks to COVID-19 and future pandemicsWork Output 2: Technical support to Industrial Parks on COVID-19 economic…
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Monday, 17 October 2022

Water and Sanitation Industry Master Plan

  • Year 2022
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Gaylor Montmasson-Clair, Gillian Chigumira, Daryl McLean, Sandra Makumbirofa
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
This Research Report, along with the Policy Report, provides the ‘first draft’ of a proposed Water and Sanitation Industry Master Plan. It puts forward a vision and associated interventions, forming the foundation of a Water and Sanitation Industry Master Plan for South Africa. The reports complement the 2018 Department of…
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Thursday, 25 August 2022

Measures to prevent theft of scrap metal

  • Year 2022
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
Theft of scrap metal, especially copper cable, imposes costs far beyond the actual value of the material taken. These costs, mostly in the form of disruptions to rail transport and electricity, effectively cut production and foreign sales worth tens of billions of rand a year Scrap metal is also a…
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Tuesday, 05 July 2022

Promoting intra-SADC trade through regional industrial value chains: A case study of import opportunities for South Africa

  • Year 2022
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Sandra Makumbirofa
  • Countries and Regions Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Regional value chains have gained increasing popularity in promoting sustained market opportunities, job creation, and sustainable development among countries. With the enactment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, access to larger economic markets will mean larger economies of scale, development of specialised capabilities, increase in productivity, as…
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Monday, 14 March 2022

A developmental regionalism approach to the AfCFTA and Rules of Origin for the cotton, textiles and apparel regional value chain

  • Year 2022
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Faizel Ismail (Director of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town and TIPS Research Fellow)
  • Countries and Regions Africa
Bilateral or regional trade agreements (RTAs) are essentially preferential in nature and a deviation from the World Trade Organization principle of most-favoured-nation or non-discrimination, as they are intended to benefit signatory countries. However, the agreement could be abused by competitive third-countries that use a member country of the RTA (that…
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Monday, 14 February 2022

Regional wool value chain

  • Year 2021
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Liako Mofo
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
This paper looks at the potential increase in regional gains, particularly in Lesotho and South Africa, through the wool value chain, with the aim of increasing regional productivity and the distribution of wealth through wool production. It also looks into the constraints that domestic, regional and international demand pose for…
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Saturday, 23 October 2021

Supporting light and small-scale manufacturing in the townships for inclusive industrialisation

  • Year 2021
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
This report highlights the myriad interventions available to township firms to develop a more equitable industrial landscape that supports firm growth and employment growth. Many of these response measures aim to address the constraints facing small businesses and industrial development in townships. Gaps however remain. Economic geography is a key…
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Sunday, 25 July 2021

Quality Infrastructure in the Republic of Korea

  • Year 2021
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Dr Ulrich Harmes-Liedtke
This country study forms part of a project for the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on the alignment of the quality infrastructure/technical infrastructure in South Africa. The project includes four country case studies: Australia, Brazil, Kenya and the Republic of Korea. The case studies for Australia, Brazil and Kenya…
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Sunday, 25 July 2021

Quality Infrastructure in Kenya

  • Year 2021
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Dr Ulrich Harmes-Liedtke
This country study forms part of a project for the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on the alignment of the quality infrastructure/technical infrastructure in South Africa. The project includes four country case studies: Australia, Brazil, Kenya and the Republic of Korea. The case studies for Australia, Brazil and the…
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Sunday, 25 July 2021

Quality Infrastructure in Brazil

  • Year 2021
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Dr Ulrich Harmes-Liedtke
This country study forms part of a project for the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on the alignment of the quality infrastructure/technical infrastructure in South Africa. The project includes four country case studies: Australia, Brazil, Kenya and the Republic of Korea. The case studies for Australia, Kenya and the…
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Sunday, 25 July 2021

Quality Infrastructure in Australia

  • Year 2021
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Dr Ulrich Harmes-Liedtke
This country study forms part of a project for the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on the alignment of the quality infrastructure/technical infrastructure in South Africa. The project includes four country case studies: Australia, Brazil, Kenya and the Republic of Korea. The case studies for Brazil, Kenya and the…
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Thursday, 22 July 2021

The coal value chain in South Africa

  • Year 2021
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Neva Makgetla, Muhammed Patel (TIPS)
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
The fundamental importance of the coal value chain to the South African economy means that its dual crises required a consistent, strategic and whole-of-government response. This study aims to provide a holistic analysis of the value chain as the basis for developing more strategic options. It first outlines the scope…
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Friday, 11 June 2021

Industrial policy and the electricity value chain

  • Year 2021
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Neva Makgetla (TIPS)
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
Industrial policy in South Africa faces the challenge of overcoming profound inequalities while building a more dynamic, productive and competitive economy. In this context, the current disruption in the electricity system provides both opportunities and threats. This paper reviews the nature, impacts and causes of the disruption as the basis…
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Friday, 04 June 2021

Perspectives on the current WTO agriculture negotiations on export restrictions

  • Year 2021
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Dr Noncedo Vutula
This working paper provides insights into the current debates on export restrictions in the World Trade Organization agriculture negotiations. An overview of the previous discussions on export restrictions is presented in an effort to draw similarities between the previous discussions and the current discussions. The paper also offers some observations…
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Sunday, 16 May 2021

Terms of Reference: Development of the Forest Products Research Strategy for South Africa

  • Year 2021
  • Organisation TIPS
The purpose of these Terms of Reference is to develop a forest product roadmap with a specific focus on: Addressing the use of timber and engineered timber products in the built environment; Identifying and promoting the development of short- and long-term efficient bio-refineries technology innovation opportunities to drive forestry sector…
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Tuesday, 16 March 2021

How can China's BRI support developmental regionalism in Africa?

  • Year 2020
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Faizel Ismail
  • Countries and Regions Africa
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its role in Africa is controversial. This paper argues that African countries should work through regional organisations, such as the African Union (AU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to use their agency and negotiate with China to advance their own…
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Wednesday, 06 January 2021

The impacts and outcomes of BBBEE: A preliminary assessment

  • Year 2021
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Neva Makgetla (TIPS)
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
This working paper provides an initial overview of the impacts and outcomes of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) policy. It also draws on business responses to a questionnaire to gain insights into the implementation process. The paper evaluates the BBBEE Codes against their core objectives – representivity in ownership,…
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Published in Economic Regulation
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Saturday, 02 January 2021

Post COVID-19 industrial development projects: Main consolidated report

  • Year 2020
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Sandy Lowitt (TIPS)
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
As South Africa responds to COVID-19 and aims to stimulate the economy and job creation post lockdown, an opportunity should not be missed to consider investing in new product markets which could increase the size and dynamism of the manufacturing sector. Such a package could contribute to arresting the trend…
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Saturday, 02 January 2021

Post COVID-19 industrial development projects: Borehole drilling rigs

  • Year 2020
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Sandy Lowitt (TIPS)
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
As South Africa responds to COVID-19 and aims to stimulate the economy and job creation post lockdown, an opportunity should not be missed to consider investing in new product markets which could increase the size and dynamism of the manufacturing sector. Such a package could contribute to arresting the trend…
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Saturday, 02 January 2021

Post COVID-19 industrial development projects: Industrial hemp

  • Year 2020
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Sandy Lowitt (TIPS)
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
As South Africa responds to COVID-19 and aims to stimulate the economy and job creation post lockdown, an opportunity should not be missed to consider investing in new product markets which could increase the size and dynamism of the manufacturing sector. Such a package could contribute to arresting the trend…
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