Chairperson, we can confirm that indeed we are prioritising certain provinces in terms of stimulating and supporting rural and township economies, especially those that are mostly rural and underserviced.
As we indicated recently in this very House, our objective as this administration is to transform our townships and villages from their current state of labour and consumption reserves into thriving, productive investment hubs.
As government, we are prioritising a spatial approach and bringing a greater subnational focus to our development strategy through the district- based model. This is not only about provincial convergence but also about the relationship between rural and urban spaces, between the poor and the rich municipalities, and between townships and villages to achieve a truly integrated form of development that fosters economic inclusion and job- creation.
At the core of our efforts to revitalise the rural and township economies is creating linkages with national interventions that inform our industrial strategy. The focus is on the expansion of manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and the automotive and other sectors.
As indicated before, an important pillar of this industrial strategy is to develop new economic centres through our spatial economic zones, revitalise industrial sites and develop business and digital hubs. For example, we currently have 10 spatial economic zones that are located and spread across various provinces in our country. These are also based on the comparative advantages of each province and location. Our government efforts in supporting the citrus industry are targeted at the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and the Western Cape, while agroprocessing can support the Free State and Mpumalanga.
The promotion of the beneficiation of our minerals will support mining in the Northern Cape and the North West, as well as expand industrial activities in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. More importantly, a focus on the beneficiation of raw materials and products will diversify the composition of South Africa's exports to global markets.
The provinces of Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal have the automotive sector, which will support existing and new township and rural businesses in the automotive sector to enter global value chains through the manufacturing of car components. The other intervention by our government is the establishment of additional incubators through the Small Enterprise Development Agency in the provinces of the Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, the Northern Cape and the North West.
Therefore, in co-ordinating all these efforts our primary objective is to build on the existing national efforts that are already under way, expand access and ensure that the development models we introduce assist us in achieving economic inclusion. As government, we endeavour to utilise public- sector procurement in order to leverage the development and growth of rural and township enterprises. On a daily basis, government procures a huge volume of goods and services for consumption in public facilities.
The Office of the Deputy President has already convened technical- level consultations with all provinces to present interventions that are currently being implemented in various provinces. Provinces are already implementing workable models that need upscaling and consolidation to achieve a maximum impact across the country. The
emerging picture is that these empowerment models can best support agricultural production and the local manufacturing of construction material for infrastructure and the built environment projects. These interventions are best placed to support the development of rural and township economies, given their pervasive nature across the country.
As government we have a responsibility to provide the necessary infrastructure, financial and mentorship support to township and rural enterprises. We believe that government has the relevant policies and relevant strategies in place in that ours is to fast- track this work towards efficient and sustainable delivery in the right quality for all South Africans. Thank you very much, Chairperson. [Applause.]