China will not only provide a ready market for South Africa’s raw materials for a long time, but it will also help address the critical skills shortage in different areas, according to International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
Addressing reporters who included a representative from Transform SA online in Pretoria, Nkoana-Mashabane revealed that China would increase short-term skills development programmes in South Africa to help the country reduce its skills gap.
“China will gradually increase the training opportunities for South Africa and will provide training for 2 000 South Africans from the year 2015 through to 2020.
“China committed to support South Africa’s industrialisation agenda by agreeing to assist in the development of science and technology and industrial parks, as well as in key areas such as the ocean economy,” she said.
In addition, the minister said that China had agreed to South Africa’s request for assistance in creating black industrialists who would participate in the mainstream economy.
Under the terms, Chinese companies would be encouraged to invest in economic zones, industrial parks and science and technology parks.