AS THE government ramps up efforts to buy more local industrial products, scores of manufacturers are benefiting from millions of rand in support from a Department of Science and Technology initiative to increase domestic productive capacity.Last month, Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor disclosed in her budget vote speech that her department had invested R105m since 2011 through its Technology Localisation Programme to support 147 manufacturing firms. The initiative helped 20 firms to land contracts worth R162m.Administered by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the programme provides funding and technology support to enable more local firms to supply goods to state-owned entities (SOEs).Minimum local content thresholds have been set for 16 designated industrial inputs, with a further five awaiting designation by the Treasury. The support assists individual firms and targeted sectors to buy technology and fund internships.Ashley Bhugwandin, who hea...
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