HILARY JOFFE: Farming and mining - they're not sexy, but they do sustain us
They are areas where SA has a comparative advantage
It was a week in which the official statistics confirmed that SA's economy shrank by a horrifying 7% last year, with agriculture and net exports among the only bright spots. It was also a week in which Proudly SA held a big "Buy SA" summit at which trade, industry & competition minister Ebrahim Patel spoke of growing manufacturing by buying local, in line with ambitions to cut imports by 20%, as outlined in President Cyril Ramaphosa's economic recovery plan. "Industrial revival is at the heart of our efforts to reignite economic growth," said Patel.
The juxtaposition made it one of those moments to wonder how often the focus is on the economy some wish we could have, rather than the one we actually have...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.