InvestSA

Manufacturers need to work with the state - which has several incentive and support strategies - to raise South Africa's competitiveness, says the trade and industry minister. The clothing and textile sector, for example, has several clusters and programmes to help manufacturers.

TPG Growth and Satya Capital are looking for entrepreneurial partnerships north of the Limpopo River that could benefit South African businesses. Their investment partnership will invest in growth stage companies and the next generation of entrepreneurs across the continent.

IBM plans to expand its global research network into South Africa by establishing a research lab in Tshimologong Precinct in Braamfontein. The lab will focus on advancing big data, cloud computing and mobile technologies.

Incentives are to be offered to graded hotels across South Africa to redesign for universal accessibility and energy efficiency, Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom said at the opening of Cape Town's Park Inn Hotel, where a third of the staff are deaf.

The government will continue to improve its incentive scheme for South Africa's film and television industry, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies told members of the industry on Thursday, noting that film and TV production are significant contributors to the country's economy.

Companies undertaking scientific research and development in South Africa are eligible for a 150% tax deduction on R&D expenditure, the Department of Science and Technology announced on Thursday. The incentive is available to businesses of all sizes and in all sectors as long as they are registered in South Africa.

South Africa's economy needs to undergo a structural shift, away from exporting mining commodities to producing value-added products, if it is to create jobs and growth, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said at the unveiling of the latest version of the country's Industrial Policy Action Plan.

The Department of Trade and Industry has published revised incentives for manufacturers that aim to offer better support to small- and medium-size enterprises, a spokesman said last week. Changes include lowering the caps on incentives for capital investments, green technology and improved resource efficiency.

Anglo-American diamond unit De Beers has begun construction of a new underground mine in South Africa. The $2-billion investment will see the creation of the country's largest diamond mine, supporting over 8 000 jobs directly and a further 5 000 jobs through the supply chain.

South Africa cement maker PPC is to invest US$230-million in building a new, one-million ton per annum cement factory and quarry in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a booming market the company describes as "severely undersupplied".