This edition of The Real Economy Bulletin is the third edition of the State of Small Business published by TIPS. It reviews trends in small business post COVID-19, looking at small business by the numbers and the pace of recovery; employment and earnings; contribution to the GDP; small business by sector; profitability and earnings; assets and liabilities; education levels; ownership by race and gender; and the geography of small business

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Business Day - 22 January 2019 by Neva Makgetla (TIPS Senior Economist)

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This policy brief attempts to draw some initial conclusions on the state of the testing infrastructure for South African National Standards (SANS). The analysis draws on a new database developed by TIPS, which individually codes some 550 SANAS testing laboratory accreditation reports. It identifies four important trends in the South African testing space: the rapid growth of private testing providers, the growing role of the big three private testers, the growth of small specialist testing firms, and – most importantly – the bifurcation of the South African testing space, and the subsequent need for a deeper, more targeted role for the South African Bureau of Standards. Finally, the policy brief recommends a new approach to monitoring and evaluation of standards, quality, and accreditation (SQAM) in South Africa, with the aim of facilitating more targeted policy interventions.

AGENDA

10:00 - 10:15 Arrival and coffee / tea

10:15 - 10:30 Opening and welcome by Chairperson: Xolelwa Mlumbi

10:30 - 12:00 Presentations:

Neva Makgetla: South Africa's exports and inclusive industrialisation
Faizel Ismail: A 'Developmental Regionalism' approach to the AfCFTA
Christopher Wood: Tracking imports, trends and anomalies

12:00 - 12:45 Discussion

12:45 Lunch

BACKGROUND

Exports are often seen as a necessary feature for industrialisation. Looking at the basket of South Africa's exported products, is there an opportunity in expanding or shifting exports to improve the industrial capacity of the country? How does the region feature within South Africa's exports? Expanding exports to neighbouring countries without comparable imports have seen significant trade imbalances. Will the African Continental Free Trade Agreement result in improved exports and imports, and ultimately support an industrialisation strategy for African economies? This Development Dialogue aims to discuss some of these challenges.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Xolelwa Mlumbi is the Deputy Director-General responsible for the International Trade and Economic Development (ITED) division at the Department of Trade and Industry.

Neva Makgetla is a senior economist at TIPS. Makgetla has published widely on the South African economy and worked for many years in government, most recently as Deputy Director General for Policy in the Economics Development Department, as well as in COSATU.

Dr Faizel Ismail is an Adjunct Professor at the UCT School of Economics and a TIPS Research Associate. He has previously been an advisor to the dti on International Trade and Special Envoy on the African Growth and Opportunity Act and served as the Ambassador Permanent Representative of South Africa to the WTO (2010-2014).

Christopher Wood is an economist at TIPS focusing on trade and industry policy. He set up the TIPS import tracker, which monitors the trends, spikes and highest imports. Chris previously worked as a researcher in economic diplomacy at the South African Institute of International Affairs.

Business Day - 21 December by Duma Gqubule

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The TIPS Forum 2019 will be held in Johannesburg on 30-31 May 2019. The theme is Innovation and Industrialisation. Those wishing to contribute papers are invited to submit their title and abstracts of up to 500 words. Deadline for submissions is 1 March 2019. For more information go to forum.tips.org.za

Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) In partnership with the DST/NRF South African Research Chair in Industrial Development (SARChI Industrial Development) based at the University of Johannesburg, the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) will be hosting its 2019 Annual Forum on 30-31 May 2019. The theme is Innovation and Industrialisation.

Aim of the conference

The aim is to deepen the understanding of a cross section of issues involved in how innovation is a key feature of industrialisation and the related opportunities and challenges.

The context for the conference

Innovation is an essential element for economic growth and technological upgrading is a key aspect of industrialisation. Despite increased public funds injected into science, technology and innovation (STI) as well as a series of policies designed to encourage innovation, South Africa’s innovation activities appear to be constrained. What then is South Africa’s ability to adapt and respond to technological change and especially discontinuous technological change?

The Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) recognises the importance of innovation for industrialisation. Each year, the state contributes significant resources as well as a having a range of support measures and institutions. The CSIR, TIA, DST, the dti, public research organisations, universities and other institutions provide funding and / or contribute in other ways to facilitate innovation.

In South Africa and the region there is an urgent need to promote industrialisation as a means to achieve socio-economic development and move towards greater levels of equality and a pro-employment development path. How does innovation support a path towards more inclusive forms of industrialisation? Developing strategic and coherent approaches that maximise the impact of state resources and leverage private sector resources requires significant further research and analysis.

Furthermore, sustainability challenges in South Africa and in the Southern African region requires significant innovation support to address the transition, adaptation and mitigation of climate change. There are also opportunities in innovation linked to green industries that could potentially support this transition. Nevertheless, despite the imperatives of transforming to a low-carbon economy to address climate change, the transition pathway should be just so as not to exacerbate South Africa’s triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment.

The challenges of the Forth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0 revolve around technology, innovation and technological change. How do we understand these concepts and their applicability to South Africa and Africa more broadly?

Understanding the challenges within the support framework and funding for innovation and its alignment with industrialisation efforts as well as the impact of innovation on jobs is needed. Additionally, the social implications of disruptive technologies are becoming more appreciated.  

The 2019 Forum will explore these issues and bring together academics, policy makers, as well as organisations and practitioners involved in the various aspects of innovation for industrialisation. The aim is to deepen the understanding of a cross section of issues involved in how innovation is a key feature of industrialisation and the related opportunities and challenges.

For more information about the Forum go to forum.tips.org.za

Business Day - 18 December 2018 by Neva Makgetla (TIPS Senior Economist)

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Business Day - 4 December 2018 by Neva Makgetla (TIPS Senior Economist)

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How does everyone get a stake in the transition?

We know that the green economic transition is necessary, urgent, and already underway. But we need to ensure that the new green economy improves the lives of ordinary people everywhere - and our meeting will focus on how we can help to make the economies of the future equitable, inclusive, and people-focused.

This year marks a milestone in our evolution as a network. With 7 country programmes now up and running around the world, our partner organisations will be sharing their stories from the frontlines of the green economic transition: evidence of real and positive improvements, with the potential to achieve scale across nations, and change lives.

Co-hosted with our South African partners, The African Centre and Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), we will be taking stock of the global transition and planning our next steps together as the largest civil society movement for fair, green economies. For a copy of the two day agenda, download attachment or read online.

This year we also hold our meeting back to back with the UN-PAGE Ministerial meeting, on 6 – 7th September, South Africa. If you are interested in attending the PAGE Ministerial, please make sure you have registered for passes here.

Useful contacts:

catriona.mclean@greeneconomycoalition.org

stuart.worsley@greeneconomycoalition.org

Venue: Hilton Cape Town City Centre 126 Buitengracht St, Cape Town, 8001 Tel: +27-21-4813700

In addition to the Hilton, we can recommend the following hotels, within easy reach of the venue: #GetAStake; Holiday Inn Express; Marriott Protea Fire & Ice

Follow the build-up on social media: @GECoalition | #GetAStake

Download conference materials here.

Green Economy Coalition policy dialogues are funded in #GetAStake
collaboration with the European Union (DCI-ENV/2016/372-847)