Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - The government has made "solid progress" in its efforts to have more goods assembled locally, the economic development department said on Sunday.
In the minibus taxi industry, the aim is to have two-thirds of vehicles made locally within the next two years, spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said in a statement.
"South Africa has improved localisation in this industry from zero percent of the annual local demand for taxis being assembled locally at the beginning of 2012, to about 50% in 2013, with an aim of reaching two-thirds by the end of 2015."
The department's efforts to have more goods assembled in the country includes forming partnerships with two local taxi manufacturers, Toyota and - through the Industrial Development Corporation - Beijing Automobile Works, a Chinese manufacturer.
These companies have already employed 220 people to assemble the taxis locally, with the number set to increase significantly by 2015.
