SOUTH Africa’s Finance Ministry has frustrated efforts by Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin to create a strong package of incentives aimed at wooing foreign investors, a local newspaper has reported. Business Report, citing unnamed government sources, said the cabinet had approved three incentives earlier this month: a development programme for SMEs, a skills support programme and an infrastructure fund to support specific investment projects. It said the cabinet also agreed on the setting up of six industrial development zones. But the newspaper said Erwin had sought a far more ambitious and effective package of measures which were blocked by Trevor Manuel’s Finance Ministry. A government source was quoted in the paper as saying the Finance Ministry felt there were not enough funds for Erwin’s package. The source also said there were concerns that some of the schemes would lead to unintended losses of revenue. – Reuters