RESEARCH REPORTS

Economic/sectoral/industrial research undertaken by IDC’s Department of Research and Information:

Economic Research:

• Economic Overviews
• Quarterly Economic Forecasts
• Economic Trends
• Reviews of the National Budget
• Overview of SA Economy since 1994
• Analysis of the potential impact of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union (Brexit) on the South African economy – 28 June 2016

Industry/Sector Research:

• Sectoral Trends
• Industry/Sector Research

Trade Reports:

• Potential risks to South Africa’s steel and aluminium industries arising from US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports (March 2018)
• Summary of SA Merchandise Trade in 2015
• Export opportunities for South Africa’s capital goods industry
• Export opportunities for South Africa in selected African countries
• Export opportunities for South Africa in other BRICS economies
• Export opportunities for South Africa in MERCOSUR countries
• Export opportunities for South Africa in other SADC economies
• Export opportunities for South Africa in the European Union

The Case for Investing in South Africa

• South Africa: Replete with opportunities for a better world, prepared for the South Africa Investment Conference 2023
• South Africa: Replete with Opportunities for a Better World (2021)
• The South African Economy and the Covid-19 Crisis : Recovery and Renewal (2020)
• The Case for Investing in South Africa (2019) – entire report
• The Case for Investing in South Africa (2019) – executive summary 

Other Reports:

• The cost evolution of renewable energies (August 2012)
• Tourism report: The business hotel industry in select East and West Africa countries (May 2012)
• Green jobs: An estimate of the direct employment potential of a greening South African economy (November 2011)
• Africa and the global economic crisis: Challenges and opportunities (February 2009)
• SOE Capex Impact (December 2005)
• Jobs for Youth : Youth employment in South Africa and its medium-term prospects

Presentations delivered at an experts’ consultation on the Interface between Mining and Manufacturing (August 2013):

• The interface between mining and manufacturing – The context by Mr Jorge Maia, IDC
• Making the Most of Africa’s Commodities: Industrializing for Growth, Jobs and Economic Transformation by Dr A Elhiraika, UNECA
• Minerals beneficiation and the metals and engineering industries of SA by Henk Duys, SEIFS
• Interface between Mining and Manufacturing: BHP Billiton Manganese story by Andre van der Bergh, BHP Billiton
• The interface between mining and manufacturing Chrome Value Chain: Processing and Beneficiation beyond Mining by Dr. Karl Rudolf Gassen Lanxess
• Enabling the future – The Importance of Clusters in South Africa by Mrs S Rhomberg, SACEEC
• The Interface Between Mining and Manufacturing: Beneficiation by Paul Jourdan, Consultant

Agro Processing Competitiveness Fund (APCF): Research Reports

The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) together with the Economic Development Department (EDD), entered into an agreement for the IDC to manage the Agro Processing Competitiveness Fund (APCF). The objective of the APCF is to facilitate increased competitiveness, growth, job creation and development in the agro-processing and beverages sectors. The APCF has three segments, namely:

1. Investment Channel
2. Business Support Channel
3. Research Grants Channel

The Research Grants fund is managed by the IDC’s Research and Information Department on behalf of the APCF Steering Committee and the funds are used to finance academic and applied research projects on a sector-wide, sub-sector and/or company level, but with the benefits of the research outcomes accruing to the sector or sub-sector as a whole and thus not benefiting only one company.

The first call for proposals was made in July 2013 and the second in February 2016.

To date the following APCF research reports have been completed:

• The research study on the Agricultural Development of Moringa Oleifera in South Africa (March 2019).
• A study on the potential product development for the commercialization and value of beef products (October 2018)
• Reduction of post-harvest losses in tomato fruits by enhancing the shelf-life through the use of fungal probiotics: increasing the economic power of smallholder farmers (September 2018)
• Sustainable control of pre and post harvest diseases of citrus fruit in South Africa (June 2018)
• Study on the market potential for the commercial viability of almond production in South Africa (1 December 2017)
• A study of the market potential for increased industrial starch production in South Africa (July 2017)
• A study on the alternative commercial potential of dairy waste production – whey (May 2017)
• Evaluating the competitiveness of the South African broiler value chain (December 2016)
• Post-harvest value addition for catfish (June 2016)
• Rural apiculture development for Limpopo (January 2016)
• Research into the potential for the production, processing and export of tilapia for the Southern African market (January 2015)

Click on the following link to visit the Economic Development Department.

FRIDGE Research:

Research reports commissioned by the Fund for Research into Industrial Development, Growth and Equity (FRIDGE). FRIDGE, which is financed by the dti and administered by the IDC on behalf of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), finances research studies leading to the generation of information, knowledge and/or initiatives aimed at improving the global competitiveness of South Africa’s industries.

Click on the following link followed by Research/Studies to access the FRIDGE reports: NEDLAC