Pretoria - Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, will on Monday unveil a multimillion rand programme to improve the technology base of 28 companies that manufacture casting materials in the country.
Driven by the Department of Science and Technology, the Technology Localisation Programme (TLP) is in line with government's Competitive Supplier Development Programme (CSDP), aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the local supply base through a range of demand and supply-side measures.
"This will assist local companies to leverage procurement opportunities from the government's large-scale infrastructure recapitalisation programme over the next 20 years," the department said.
Through the TLP initiative, companies will be able to access expertise from the department's activities in advanced manufacturing and light metals.
The department said the initiative is also linked to high-level government initiatives such as the Industrial Policy Action Programme (IPAP), developed to help South Africa reduce its trade deficit while improving its long term manufacturing capacity.
"It is important for local foundries to be globally competitive as they form the backbone upon which the country's supply chains can be further developed for big infrastructure programmes, such as the ones of Eskom and Transnet to support and drive localisation," the department said.
The department is working in partnership with the Departments of Trade and Industry, Public Enterprises, the foundry industry and development agencies to drive localisation in the country. -
