Question NW1746 to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
02 June 2023 - NW1746
Msane, Ms TP to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
What (a) South African companies are involved in the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) that seeks to build intra-African infrastructure that will assist in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and (b) projects are prioritised by the PIDA programme to advance the slow growth of the internet provisions in the African continent? [
Reply:
a) The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) is a programme of the African Union (AU) launched in 2012. It is coordinated through the AU Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) in cooperation with regional economic communities, regional and continental technical agencies, and participating countries. The Presidency acts as the focal point in South Africa for PIDA.
According to the Virtual PIDA Information Centre, the following South African firms and entities have been involved in the development and implementation of the PIDA Priority Action Plan (PIDA PAP1 2012-2020):
No |
Project Name |
SA Firms/Entities |
Status |
01 |
Durban Port Expansion |
Transnet |
Ongoing |
02 |
Maputo Port Expansion (Maputo and Matola Drybulk Terminal) |
Grindrod and Zutari |
Ongoing |
03 |
Dar es Salaam-Isaka-Mwanza Standard Gauge Railway Project |
DBSA |
Ongoing |
04 |
Beitbridge One Stop Border Post |
Rand Merchant Bank, Standard Bank, Nedbank, ECIC and Raubex Group Ltd |
Ongoing |
* Source: PIDA Dashboard, company websites and media
b) With regards to the internet and Information and communication technologies (ICT), the PIDA Dashboard indicates a total of 114 projects that have been prioritised under PIDA PAP1. A further 11 anchor projects have also been approved for the PIDA PAP2 2021-2030, which is the second PIDA priority action plan for the period 2021-2030.
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