Question NW2581 to the Minister of Trade and Industry

Reply:

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY

 

The National Export Advisory Council (NEAC) will facilitate access to targeted international markets by prioritising the resources and supporting the exporters to enter foreign markets and service continental infrastructure projects. NEAC will facilitate the eradication of trade barriers in the targeted markets (as informed by the Export Diversification Strategy) whilst dealing with the developmental issues as defined by the “four gear concept” of the International Trade Center, which places emphasis on the developmental impacts of the export sector and its synchronicity with the national development goals

The NEAC structure will provide direction, co-ordination and oversight in order to enhance the trade and business environment and improving the competitiveness of companies and sectors. The NEAC approach is modelled on ITC’s Four Functional Gear Concept of Competitiveness and Development which informs the draft Integrated National Export Strategy (INES). The four gears comprise 1) Border-in or supply-side issues dealing with capacity development, capacity diversification, skills and entrepreneurship development; 2) Border or business environment dealing with infrastructure, trade facilitation and cost of doing business; 3) Border-out or demand-side issues dealing with market access, in-market support and strategic export promotion; and the developmental issues such as export-related employment, transformation efforts and regional development. The three competitiveness gears of should reinforce other each, whilst powering the 4) developmental gear resulting in a combined competitiveness-development focus for the country. The NEAC structure will deal with all four gears in unlocking regulatory or institutional bottlenecks in order to improve competitiveness and drive exports.

Question

(2) (a) who are the members that serve on the specified council and (b) how were they chosen;

Response

(2) (a) NEAC will comprise the Ministries involved directly or indirectly in the export development and export promotion regulatory and policy framework, State Owned Enterprises, 5 Proxies of Export formations (including Export councils, Export clubs, Joint Action Groups, Industry associations, Chamber of Commerce) Business Unity South Africa, Black Business Council, Provincial Investment and Promotion Agencies etc.

(2) (b) The aforementioned members are recommended on their respective roles in advancing the national export agenda contributing to the realization of the National Development Plan and New Growth Path imperatives.

Question

(3) what remuneration will each council member receive;

Response

(3) The remuneration package of the council member are not determined as yet as we are awaiting the finalisation of the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the establishment of the National Export Development and Promotion Bill, the outcome thereof will inform the modality of NEAC.

The Bill which is being explored will provide for the establishment of structure/s with the functions to represent and promote the interests of the export community and to advise national, provincial and local spheres of government on policy imperatives in order to advance the national export agenda.

Question

(4) what costs will be incurred by the specified council to do its work;

Response

The costs have not been determined for the aforementioned reason (Awaiting the outcome of the National Export Development and Promotion Bill that will inform the modality of NEAC and the needs of the potential beneficiaries).

Question

(5) has (a) a business plan and (b) key objectives been developed for the specified council; if so, what are the relevant details in each case? NW2956E

Response

(5) (a) A business plan will be compiled upon the conclusion of the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the establishment of the National Export Development and Promotion Bill. It will be important to consider the proposed structure within a national responsive institutional framework in order to address the current fragmentation and the on-going strengthening of NEAC’s capacity.

(b) The key objectives of the council will be developed upon the conclusion of the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the establishment of the National Export Development and Promotion Bill.