Speaker and hon members, the New Growth Path sets a target of creating 5 million new jobs by 2020. We note that there is a steady rise in job creation. The Labour Force Survey shows that over 300 000 new jobs were created by the end of 2011. However, this is no cause for celebration, since we believe that there is a long road ahead, and we are thus accelerating measures to increase employment through public sector interventions as well as by assisting the private sector to create more jobs.
For example, we have streamlined key elements of the regulatory framework. Important steps in this regard include enhancements to the mining licensing and environmental impact assessment systems; the establishment of a consumer protection agency; the development of an unblocking project in the Department of Economic Development, which has assisted large new employment- creating projects to overcome unnecessary bureaucratic delays; as well as continued efforts to simplify tax administration, including the acclaimed instrument of e-filing.
We have also initiated major programmes to support key economic sectors. These include the auto industry scheme, which has already led to billions of rand in new investment; the clothing and textiles scheme, which has stabilised this critical labour-intensive industry; continued support for business process services, which has already succeeded in creating tens of thousands of new jobs; and a number of programmes to bolster agroprocessing. In addition, we have expanded financing and business support opportunities for small, medium and micro enterprises.
The key driver of the job creation element of the New Growth Path is the newly adopted South African National Infrastructure Plan. This infrastructure plan will encourage employment creation in four ways. Firstly, key projects will improve the competitiveness of core industries and of opening up new opportunities for them, especially through the Durban- Free State-Gauteng corridor and the opening up of the northern mining belt, as well as security of the energy supply and upgrading the ports.
Secondly, major investments will also go to increase the access of historically deprived regions to the core economy through improved roads, rail and communications as well as enhancing their productivity through investments in household and economic infrastructure and in social capital.
Thirdly, construction employment for the build programme will, in itself, generate thousands of jobs. Moreover, the introduction of a co-ordinated pipeline approach should stabilise employment in the industry.
Fourthly, the commitment to maintaining public investment will act as a countercyclical stimulus for the economy as a whole. In this context, the decision to maximise local procurement of inputs will ensure the greatest possible multiplier from the build programme. Certainly, the current slowdown in the global economy, combined with the fragility of the overall recovery in Europe and the United States, remains a major cause for concern. Government is considering a range of measures both to sustain growth and to ensure the greatest possible benefits for our people in terms of employment creation in particular. These measures will include both macroeconomic and microeconomic interventions. In spite of these challenges, we remain confident that the measures we have put in place will help us to create new jobs. Thank you.