Pretoria - Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies has held engagements with captains of industry in Germany, who have expressed confidence in South Africa.
Minister Davies held two engagements with German business people on the sidelines of President Jacob Zuma’s State visit to Germany.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Trade and Industry said the Minister had held discussions with targeted investors that include Siemens, Bilfinger SE Power System, Airbus Ds GmbH, Robert Bosch, German African Business Association, and the SA-German Chamber of Commerce.
The Minister also engaged a German-South African Business Forum.
German companies expressed confidence in South Africa.
The German Chamber of Commerce agreed to work with South Africa in establishing a fund that will focus on Supplier Development and Skills Development. According to Minister Davies, this will benefit small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and the black industrialist programme.
“We also know that Germany is a country of SMMEs that are in clusters, innovative and export oriented and we are looking at such partnership on Supply Development and Skills Development to create opportunities for our SMMEs,” said Minister Davies.
Minister Davies said the amended Broad Based–Black Economic Empowerment Codes of Good Practice is also prioritising the promotion of Supply Development and Skills Development.
The CEO of SA-German Chamber of Commerce, Matthias Boddenberg, said they are in support of government’s policy of Black Industrialist and they are committed to implementing it.
“There is a need for a fresh wind in our relationship and that new wind can come out of our cooperation in terms of creating the basis for Black Industrialists as suppliers to our companies in South Africa.
“Our member companies are supporting the Enterprise Development and Supplier Development concept wholeheartedly. We are committed as German businesses to transformation in South Africa and will work with the dti,” said Boddenberg.
Between January 2003 and March 2015, Germany invested about R62.91 billion, creating about 19 480 jobs. This was invested in 85 Foreign Direct Investment projects all over South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za
