Category: Africa

Source: South Africa News Agency

Friday, June 27, 2025

Source: South Africa News Agency

South Africa has taken a significant step in fostering inclusive growth by officially ratified the Protocol Women and Youth in Trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

This was announced by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who addressed the High-Level G20 Intergenerational Roundtable, hosted by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) on Friday.

“This milestone is not just a symbolic gesture; it is a decisive policy action that signals our intent to mainstream gender and youth equity within intra-African trade policy.

“The protocol is significant because it operationalises the inclusion of woman-led and youth-led enterprises in regional and global value chains. It mandates the removal of structural trade barriers, prioritises access to information, finances, and markets, as well as requires state parties to create enabling legal and policy environments for inclusive economic participation,” he said.

The Deputy President reflected on the continent’s youthful population and noted that youth “remain on the margins of formal trade”.

Therefore, the protocol on women and youth will assist to “rewire trade systems to reflect demographic and developmental realities”.

“South Africa’s ratification means we are committed not only to advocating for inclusive trade but also to designing trade systems that are fit for purpose. This inclusion reinforces South Africa’s leadership role on the continent and supports the broader message of building youth capabilities for a developmental State.

“We understand that we need young people to meaningfully build capable, ethical, and developmental states. We must integrate youth into national and continental planning frameworks, not just as beneficiaries but also as co-architects of development,” he said.

Promoting inclusive growth

Mashatile emphasised that a “functioning and competent” government is needed if youth are to break free from marginalisation.

“Therefore, the first and most pressing priority of our government is the promotion of inclusive economic growth, industrialisation, employment, and reducing inequality.

“The time has come for us to move beyond inclusion as a moral goal and make it a measurable outcome.

“In this regard, it is important for the economy to strengthen the viable pathways for youth inclusion. We have noted that young people complain about the red tape and bureaucratic hurdles they need to overcome to access services designed to support and scale their entrepreneurial effort,” Mashatile said.

He noted that a specialised unit has been established in the Presidency to address the business climate and address regulatory challenges.

“This team is adopting a coordinated, cross-sectoral approach, engaging various government departments and entities to streamline processes and enable business growth.

“Key interventions in this regard will target the removal of administrative bottlenecks in strategic sectors. These include improvements to the mining licensing framework, facilitation of tourism transport permits, and streamlining of visa and work permit processes, as well as regulatory support for early childhood development services and the informal economy,” Mashatile said.

Furthermore, government will:

• Anchor youth inclusion in every major pillar of our G20 Presidency, from climate finance and trade facilitation to digital transformation and skills mobility.
• Institutionalise intergenerational co-leadership in governance frameworks, moving beyond consultation to shared power and shared design.
• Work with regional and global partners to implement targeted reforms that enable young people to start businesses, access capital, and engage in cross-border trade.

“The developmental State we seek to build is not a theoretical construct; it must be a living architecture built on the capabilities, aspirations, and contributions of its young people.

“This roundtable has made one thing clear: youth are not merely beneficiaries of policy; they are builders of nations. We must now ensure that the decisions we take at multilateral forums reflect this truth. 

“Let the G20 remember that Africa is young. South Africa is ready, and we want young people to take the lead in the developmental and transformation agenda. The future is yours, and you are the future. Stand up, persevere, and confront every challenge with persistence. We are here to provide you with the support you need as you navigate this process,” the Deputy President concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

Government has identified 59 bankable biodiversity projects that are expected to generate at least $450,000 in green finance, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George announced during the department’s budget vote speech in Parliament on Friday.

These funds were identified through the biodiversity sector investment portal, which links investors with bankable projects as a means of growing the biodiversity economy. 

The portal is among the initiatives by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has undertaken to position the department as a national leader in environmental financing.

“In the face of budget cuts, the DFFE is doubling down on financial discipline and innovation to ensure every rand unlocks value for people and the environment. Our proactive spending review, initiated in October 2024, has identified significant cost-saving opportunities,  aiming to redirect resources towards high-impact environmental and conservation initiatives.

“Each branch is now mandated to explore new revenue streams, reduce unnecessary expenditure, and secure sustainable financing. Work has also begun on draft regulations to unlock the value of carbon credits,” the Minister said.

These will lay the groundwork for monetising environmental assets under the department’s portfolio – supporting job creation, habitat conservation, private sector investment, and financing of priority programmes. 

“This marks a bold step toward positioning DFFE as a national leader in environmental financing. To support this broader mandate, we have launched discussions with international donors, private partners, and philanthropies.

“The Green Fund, managed by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), continues to channel public funding into innovative climate, energy, and waste projects. Our investment portal for the biodiversity economy has already spotlighted 59 bankable projects, leading to at least $450,000 in green finance committed,” he said.

George assured parliament that the department’s entities continue to deliver exceptional impact – conserving our heritage, generating jobs, and building community resilience.

“The South African National Parks (SANParks)  has placed inclusive development at the centre of its conservation mandate. Over the past five years, it has provided over 21 000 full-time jobs through the Expanded Public Works Programme, supported 3 127 small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs), and delivered 2 264 animals to emerging game farmers—ensuring that protected areas become engines of opportunity for surrounding communities.

“iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority is advancing its commercialisation strategy, with 62 contracts already signed and new revenue from tourism concessionaires set to flow directly to the entity from 1 September 2025,” the Minister said.

As the nation’s frontline in early warning systems, the South African Weather Service has issued nearly 1 400 severe weather alerts last year and reached over 2 million vulnerable citizens through a targeted community radio programme and 32 outreach events. 

“These efforts not only save lives but empower South Africans with climate information they can act on. The South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI), South Africa’s national biodiversity steward, continues to lead in climate finance. A $40 million Green Climate Fund project will launch this year, benefiting over 350,000 people directly and 1.5 million indirectly through investments in ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction.

“These achievements demonstrate that when we invest in our environmental entities, we invest in jobs, resilience, and a sustainable future,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

Friday, June 27, 2025

Source: South Africa News Agency

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Sherpa, Dr Bright Okogu, has challenged African nations to take decisive steps in transforming their economic landscape by creating robust investment environments and processing raw materials domestically.

“Africa needs to take charge of its own destiny,” Okogu said on Friday. 

Traditional development aid, the Sherpa said, is rapidly diminishing, making it imperative for African countries to attract quality investments.

“There’s no running away from it. The aid that people used to depend on is no longer available. It’s been very clear that aid is drying up and with all the changes in the world, people are spending more money on defence in their own countries. So you can’t rely on it, which makes it necessary to ensure you can attract good investment to your country.” 

Okogu spoke during the Group of 20 (G20) Sherpa meeting at the Sun City Resort in the North West province.

He highlighted key recommendations, including developing clear regulatory frameworks, removing bureaucratic obstacles, and investing in local processing capabilities.

Okogu said current intra-African trade remains low, hovering around 15%-16% when it should ideally reach 30%-40%. 

He noted some hurdles including limited infrastructure, similar raw material production, and complex transportation networks that often force African countries to trade through European intermediaries.

Okogu pointed out the anomalies of current trade routes, including instances where African airlines must fly indirect routes through other continents to connect with neighboring countries.

“Countries must invest in converting raw materials into finished products. Take cocoa, for example. Instead of exporting raw beans, African nations should be producing chocolate and cosmetic products, thereby capturing more economic value.”

Okogu stated that the WTO is supporting reform efforts, recognising that meaningful change requires dismantling long-standing structural barriers.

The WTO, the world’s largest international economic organisation with 166 members representing over 98% of global trade and global gross domestic product (GDP), has since outlined key recommendations. 

These, according to Okogu, involve investing in local processing capabilities, developing streamlined regulatory frameworks, creating attractive investment environments, and improving continental transportation infrastructure. 

“Critical minerals like lithium represent enormous potential, but countries must negotiate investment terms strategically, ensuring local job creation and value addition.” 

He also took the time to encourage dialogue to resolve trade tensions. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

While South Africa has made significant strides in developing strategies, building infrastructure, and attracting investment, more must be done to ensure government programmes have a broader and deeper impact on the national economy.

This was said by the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Special Advisor at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Maoto Molefane, during the SSEZ CEOs Forum, held at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in Johannesburg, on Thursday. 

The high-level engagement brought together key stakeholders, including business leaders, government officials, and development partners to reflect on the state of the country’s SEZs and provide input into the draft Spatial Industrial Development Strategy (SIDS). The strategy proposes a reimagined model for SEZs, industrial parks, and township economic development.

Molefane called for a shift from “business-as-usual” approach to meaningful implementation that delivers measurable outcomes that will help reignite the country’s re-industrialisation agenda.

“We continue to face stubborn challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment, and we have to change that. Our view as the dtic is that all the challenges facing this country can only be addressed if we create decent jobs. 

“Through jobs, the number of the South African Social Security Agency recipients will decrease, our tax revenue will increase, informal settlements will shrink, and social ills like crime will subside,” Molefane said.

Molefane emphasised the need for a strategic rethink of the SEZ framework, grounded from past lessons, and guided by the material conditions facing both communities and investors.

“We are no longer in the business of issuing SEZ licences. Our job is not to designate for the sake of designating. Our job is to industrialise this country. The designation of an SEZ should find us already on the ground doing the work to support investments,” he added.

As part of its course correction, Molefane noted that the dtic has introduced several measures, including the establishment of a Special Economic Zones Programme Management Unit (PMU) to provide technical support, ensure greater national oversight, help build necessary industrial infrastructure, and require firm investment commitments before any new SEZ is proclaimed.

“The draft strategy also responds to spatial and economic disparities by prioritising geographic areas with industrial potential, even those without designated SEZs. 

“This ensures that township economies, underutilised industrial parks, and marginalised municipalities are not left behind in the national effort to reindustrialise. 

“There is a need for coherence and collaboration across all levels of government to deliver impactful, place-based interventions,” highlighted Molefane.

The forum also noted the progress made by well-performing zones like Coega, East London, Dube TradePort, and the Tshwane Automotive SEZ (TASEZ), while acknowledging the ongoing work required to integrate Black industrialists, link small businesses, and align SEZs with broader regional development goals.

Stakeholders in attendance welcomed the frankness of the presentation and underscored the importance of turning South Africa’s SEZs into globally competitive zones of productivity, innovation, and inclusive economic opportunity. – SAnews.gov.za