2.2. Role of State Owned Enterprises in the economy . Ensuring the security of supply and the efficient and competitive provision of key economic infrastructure. . Facilitating the development of advanced manufacturing capability through: direct investment via current or new SOEs . SOE investment and procurement programmes . strategic partnership engagements with global enterprises. . SOEs can be used by the State to sort out economically stifling market or regulatory failures especially in the area of network infrastructure. The Department has the following support programmes to other national government departments: . Aligning skills development programmes within the SOEs with the programmes and objectives of the responsible national government departments . Aligning investments in and by SOEs with the national innovation development programmes of the responsible national government departments . Supporting government strategies focused on labour absorption and rural development by providing infrastructure investments and SOE- services with marginal commercial viability