5. The extent to which innovations in biotechnology, nanotechnology and advanced manufacturing, etc. linked with other or existing beneficiation programmes, was questioned. The Department indicated that there were a number of areas where the sole focus is on value-add. Four platforms were developed for the different types of metals such as precious metals, ferrous metals and light metals. The by-products of the metal industries allowed for advanced manufacturing in, for example, the area of chemicals. Other initiatives were in the agricultural sector. The Department undertook to do a full briefing with the Committee at a later stage on some of the socio-economic development projects.