Industrial policy is once again central to global debates on economic growth and development. Governments worldwide are deploying new strategies to stay competitive amid geopolitical shifts, climate imperatives and rapid technological change. South Africa is no exception.
The International Economic Partnership (IEP) Programme invites you to join policymakers and experts for a four-part webinar series on industrial policy. The first of these webinars focuses on Growth Enhancing Infrastructure for Industrial Development. Infrastructure is the backbone of industrial development. Strategic investment in energy, transport, digital networks, and water systems can boost productivity, attract foreign investment, and enable innovation. Yet in South Africa, delivery has often been constrained by regulatory, institutional, and financing challenges.
This webinar will bring together policymakers, researchers, and private sector representatives to examine:
- The role of infrastructure in stimulating industrial growth and competitiveness
- Which sectors and infrastructure types hold the greatest potential for impact
- Barriers that constrain delivery and how to unlock effective public–private partnerships (PPPs)
- How to ensure infrastructure development is inclusive, creating opportunities for women, youth, and historically disadvantaged communities
- Lessons from international experiences with infrastructure planning and financing
Key questions:
- How has infrastructure investment contributed to industrial development and innovation in South Africa?
- Which infrastructure priorities can most effectively drive competitiveness and attract foreign investment?
- What reforms are needed to overcome regulatory and institutional bottlenecks?
- How can inclusivity be embedded in infrastructure planning and delivery?
- Looking forward, which two or three reforms should be prioritised to ensure infrastructure becomes a driver of long-term, inclusive growth?
The webinar will include a Keynote Presentation by Mark Swilling (Professor of Sustainable Development in the School of Public Leadership, University of Stellenbosch), and will be followed by a panel discussion between Andreas Bertoldi, Stephen Smith and Annie Sugrue. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A from the audience.
Register for Part 1: Growth enhancing infrastructure for industrial development here.
Abstract based on original source.
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