TIPS Forum 2020: Regional Industrial Development

Presentations

DAY ONE: 28 JULY 2020
OPENING SESSION
10:00 – 10:15 Welcome Saul Levin (TIPS)
10:15- 11:15 Key note address Dr Arkebe Oqubay
Moderator: Prof Fiona Tregenna (SARChI, UJ)

SESSION 1: TRADE AND REFORM IN AFRICA
11:30-12:45
Moderator: Dr Zhuqing Mao (SARChI, UJ)

DAY TWO: 29 JULY 2020
SESSION 2: INCLUSIVE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
10:00-11:15
Moderator: Zukiswa Kimani (the dtic)

SESSION 3: STRENGTHENING AND BUILDING REGIONAL VALUE CHAINS
11:30– 12:45
Moderator: Themba Khumalo (the dtic)

DAY THREE: 4 AUGUST 2020
SESSION 4: SUSTAINABLE REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
10:00-11:15
Moderator: Khodani Mulaudzi (WWF)

SESSION 5: LOW-CARBON AND INCLUSIVE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
11:30-12:45
Moderator: Gaylor Montmasson-Clair (TIPS)

DAY FOUR : 5 AUGUST 2020
SESSION 6: FINANCING INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, THEORY, POLICY AND PRACTICE
10:00– 11:15
Moderator: Garth Strachan (TIPS)

TIPS FORUM 2020 RESCHEDULED

The unfolding COVID-19 pandemic means we had to adapt our format. The TIPS Forum 2020 on Regional Industrial Development is now rescheduled and will be held as digital sessions in two parts. 

Part 1: 28 & 29 July 2020
Part 2: 4 & 5 August 2020

This decision has been taken by TIPS in consultation with our partners, the DST/NRF South African Research Chair in Industrial Development at the University of Johannesburg, the United Nations University for Development Economics Research programme on Southern Africa – Towards Inclusive Economic Development, and the South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.

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Themes

Papers for the forum would cover topics including:

  • Regional integration
  • Regional value chains
  • Trade negotiations and the AfCTFA
  • Regional industrial development and the transition to a low-carbon economy
  • Barriers to entry for new entrants and black industrialists
  • Regional industrial development and approaches to poverty, unemployment and inequality
  • The role of small business in regional industrial development
  • The impacts of financialisation
  • The role of foreign direct investment in regional industrial development
  • Competition levels and market concentration
  • Intangible flows: knowledge flows in the region in relation to industrial development and skills transfer linked to regional FDI
  • Public procurement as a lever for regional industrial development
  • Industrial policy in regional economies, and regional industrial policy
  • The role of multinational companies and access to global value chains.

Papers that explore related themes or other issues related to industrial development will also be considered.
Submissions from practitioners in the field of Regional Industrial Development are also encouraged.

Context for the conference

With renewed recognition of the importance of building industrial capacity in developing countries as well as having effective industrial policy, industrial development across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region has been identified as a central path towards accelerated and sustained economic development.

Collectively, the SADC region is relatively under-industrialised. In more than half of the member countries the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP is 10 percent or less, and in some cases lower than six percent.

A regional approach to industrialisation is important, given the integration between Southern African economies, including through regional value chains. Patterns of industrial development in one country affect other economies in the region. Furthermore, given the small domestic markets in most Southern African countries, regional markets are important for reaching economies of scale necessary for industrial development. In the policy domain, it is important to take a regional approach to industrialisation. Indeed, industrial policy is increasingly prominent in regional policy priorities.

Minerals extraction has been a driving force for regional economic growth and still plays a significant role in regional economies. The region has not fully utilised the upstream and downstream potential from these minerals to support industrialisation, what is the potential to do so? Similarly, what are the potential gains from agro-processing for industrialisation in the region, including through regional value chains in agro-processing?

Further, industrialisation is a means to achieve socio-economic development and move towards greater levels of equality and a pro-employment development path. How does regional integration and regional value chains support this? Will the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) contribute toward improved levels of industrialisation?

Developing strategic and coherent approaches to industrial development that maximise the impact of state resources and leverage in private sector resources also requires significant further research and analysis.

With the impacts of climate change and the need to ensure a more sustainable future, there needs to be alignment with the industrialisation challenges and approaches in South Africa and in the Southern African region. How does regional industrial development approach the transition, adaptation and mitigation of climate change? What approach is being taken to green industries that could potentially support this transition?

Furthermore, how does technological change impact on the types of industries and approach to industrialisation in the region?
South Africa has become a highly financialised economy, how has this impacted on the region? Has it supported industrialisation and growth, or had adverse outcomes?
The 2020 Forum will explore these issues and bring together academics, policymakers, as well as organisations and practitioners involved in the various aspects of regional industrial development. The aim is to deepen the understanding of a cross section of issues, and the related opportunities and challenges.

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