Chairperson, I understand that I have four minutes and the clock is already ticking.
This is really in respect of the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report, BRRR, process of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry. We reflected on the achievements and priorities of the Department of Trade and Industry, DTI, notwithstanding the budget constraints that had to be managed by them. Indeed, we noted that some divisions and entities achieved this better than others and all but one achieved unqualified audits. We believe that the DTI can stand tall in that respect, yes.
The key priorities of the DTI are to develop an enabling environment to drive strategic regional and international trade and investment and, in that way, create sustainable jobs. But we all know that small and medium businesses create the most jobs. We believe that there is a need to underpin this and, should be there any opportunity to review the budget, we need to look in this direction.
In regard to international trade, South Africa has embarked on a number of strategies, among them more recently the tripartite free-trade area in Africa. Their total budget of R6,8 billion represented an increase of only 4,6%, of which 5,6% is transferred to entities.
Now, the main thing to say about this department is that industrialisation is the key instrument through which it is going to underpin the national strategy to create jobs, and policy. The conclusions that the committee reached in this regard were, broadly speaking, that underexpenditure had been noted with respect to the vacancy rate, but there was a total commitment on the DTI's part to fulfilling a three-month commitment in this regard, which they are sticking to.
Regarding administration and recommendations in particular - also regarding vacancies - to keep this on track, we want quarterly reports in this direction.
Regarding industrial development, we certainly believe that there has to be a review, where possible, to increase certain resources in respect of this allocation.
On trade, investment and exports, the DTI was requested by the committee and the House, when it adopted the report, to submit a report on the return of investments of spending on trade promotion activities in the medium term and its measurable effect on trade levels, especially trade with the rest of the African continent, within six months of tabling this report.
Now that I have highlighted them all - I note that I have one and a half minutes left - I can expand on one or two areas, for example, the strategic objectives of Industrial Policy Action Plan 2, Ipap2. The DTI should undertake a strategic review of the performance of the National Industrial Participation Programme in regard to the investment and milestones. They have been reporting to us but there is a need to track this far more regularly.
With respect to the Auditor-General's concerns, notwithstanding unqualified audits and so on, a concern was raised in respect of performance information. We would like underpin this and agree that, certainly the DTI can try to improve the information and the strategies that it implements in respect of the measurement validity and accuracy when it comes to the strategies and the achievements of the targets in that direction.
Something else that we should note, which was a serious recommendation, was underregulation. Many of us want to pooh-pooh standards and so on. The reality is that it is very important for our trade. The DTI should ensure that capacity and resources of the regulatory bodies and the Standardisation, Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Metrology, Sqam, institutions are increased to enable them to address the challenges they are experiencing.
Certainly this was a unanimously adopted report and the ANC, of course, led that drive. I want to thank the committee members, the support staff and the DTI for their co-operation.
There was no debate.
Chairperson, I move:
That the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to (Democratic Alliance dissenting).
Report accordingly adopted.