Programmes in industry investment and skills development need to be more vigorously pursued, Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa said on Tuesday.
Mpahlwa was briefing the media in Pretoria on the economic, investment and employment clusters programme.
These included the amended Competition Bill which had been submitted to Parliament.
Elements of the new legislation included company conduct, concepts of complex monopolies, and personal liabilities for directors involved in anti-competitive behaviour.
”This cluster intervention is crucial if we are to address market failures resulting from uncompetitive behaviour and outcomes,” he said.
Referring to the electricity situation, Mpahlwa said the energy summit in May had been a success and had demonstrated the commitment of all stakeholders to address areas of action.
”Some electricity savings targets have been achieved. However it’s important to register that residential areas are still lagging behind industry.”
The national energy response team had also proved effective in developing an integrated response to the ”emergency”, including demand-side management.
In addition, cogeneration tariffs and rules had been determined and published and Eskom’s stockpiles had improved.
He said the economy had grown and fixed investments had grown dramatically. Total investment had risen from 15% in 2004 to 21% in 2007. The real or average income per person had also risen annually by 4% since 2004.
”It must suggest that we will probably achieve that target [of achieving 25% investment] way before 2014,” Mpahlwa said.
He said the cluster had also considered the revised national human resource development strategy and was ready to submit it to the Cabinet for consideration.
He said the cluster programmes would also promote dynamic growth sectors.
These included metals, engineering, chemicals, forestry and the textile sectors. – Sapa