Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies

31/07/2026

We had a Development Dialogue last week on the subject of Green Industrial Policy. Here is the link below to the full video of the event in case you were not able to attend. Presentations are also available for download.
https://buff.ly/pWm6x2S

30/07/2026

Here is a podcast worth listening to. Check also on Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Cast, YouTube and more.

https://buff.ly/nGxFC0e

Podcast Episode · TIPS Podcast · 30 July · 30min

20/07/2026

This Mandela Day, the TIPS team spent their 67 minutes where it mattered most: in the community of Bokfontein, a settlement in the Madibeng Local Municipality, North West.
Our journey took us through expansive agricultural landscapes and past the holiday homes and townhouses of Haartbeesport Dam to a community that is comprised mostly of shacks, informal brick housing and no formal roads. It was roughly a 57-minute drive...or perhaps it felt more like 67.

The day was about more than giving, it was about working alongside the community. We shared cake with the children, handed out toys, planted food crops, helped erect fencing, and spent time with the people who continue to inspire resilience and hope.
For many years, Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) has proudly supported two early childhood development centres in Bokfontein: Tshabadimaketse Creche and Sunshine Academy/Creche. This year's contributions were made to help strengthen the environments where children learn, play, and grow.
Our donations included:

Tshabadimaketse Creche
• Building materials for a sewage and drainage system
• Children's tables and chairs
• Blankets
• Cleaning supplies
• Colouring books and crayons

Sunshine Academy/Creche
• Fencing materials
• Building materials for a shelter
• Children's tables and chairs
• Blankets
• Colouring books and crayons

Mandela Day reminds us that meaningful change is built through consistent acts of service, not only on one day, but through long-term partnerships and a shared commitment to improving lives. Beyond giving back, days like these reaffirm why our work at TIPS matters. Seeing the socio-economic and infrastructure challenges communities navigate every day ensures that our research remains grounded in lived realities and inspires us to pursue policies that are both practical and transformative.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed their time, energy, and generosity. Together, we continue to honour Madiba's legacy by investing in our communities and the future of South Africa.

17/07/2026

You are invited to the TIPS Forum 2026, to be held at IDC, Sandton (Johannesburg).

14/07/2026

TIPS has been undertaking research, beginning in 2024, to
assess the extent to which South Africa’s industrial policy
supports the development of green industries and the
transition of existing sectors towards more sustainable and
inclusive production.

Join our Development Dialogue, click the link below to register:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/B6nCA_C4QLeaodml-IffFA #/registration

08/07/2026

Two economists from Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) recently joined Classic Business on 101.3 FM to explore one of South Africa's most pressing industrial policy debates: the question of localising pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Should South Africa prioritise local pharmaceutical production, or should it continue to rely on imported medicines where they are more cost-effective? What are the implications of localisation for industrial development, economic competitiveness, and job creation? How should the costs of building domestic manufacturing capacity be shared between government, industry, and consumers?

Listen to the conversation as the economists unpack these questions and examine the opportunities and trade-offs facing South Africa's pharmaceutical sector.

Health and Wellness: The High Cost – and High Stakes – of Making Medicines Locally Neva Makgetla is a Senior Economist at TIPS Sakhile Ndlovu economist and researcher at TIPS

30/06/2026

You are invited to the TIPS Annual Forum, taking place on 4–5 August 2026 at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Sandton.
This year's Forum will bring together 39 distinguished speakers from South Africa, Kenya, the United States, Botswana, India, Lesotho, Namibia, the Netherlands, and other countries to explore some of the most pressing issues shaping industrial development and public policy. Our theme for 2026 is "New Directions in Industrialisation and Industrial Policy in Africa".

The two-day programme features 10 thematic sessions, including keynote addresses, expert panel discussions, moderated dialogues, and a closing panel. At the heart of the Forum are interactive question-and-answer sessions, providing participants with the opportunity to engage directly with leading academics, policymakers, industry experts, and development practitioners.
Join us for two days of thought-provoking discussions, knowledge exchange, and networking as we examine research on industrialisation of Africa.

For more information, visit our website on the link below:

The conference aims to deepen the understanding of the relationship between finance and industrial development, and of what financing is required for industrial development.

29/06/2026

This policy brief highlights the need for South Africa to start considering the risks of border carbon adjustments in its fiscal policy support measures. This includes the adjustment of the current carbon tax trajectory to reflect more “carrots” in relation to affected BCA firms. These measures would help provide relief to industries impacted by BCAs, including the EU CBAM.

This policy brief draws on research conducted by TIPS on climate and trade. Its purpose is to provide clarity on how the South African fiscal policy could support firms impacted by the European Union (EU) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and more broadly, Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs).&...

26/06/2026

Visit TIPS website to see training workshop opportunities with facilitators like Prof Faizel Ismail and Prof Seeraj Mohamed. TRADE POLICY AND SOUTH AFRICA — MODULE 2 is coming up this July. For inquiries send an email to [email protected]
https://buff.ly/GIhnxts

For information about the TIPS training courses and to register, please send an email to [email protected]

23/06/2026

Here is the video recording covering the whole event on the localisation of pharmaceutical production. We had a prominent panel, as well as a number of discussants who were Paul Miller (Cipla Africa) Swasthi Soomaroo (the dtic)and Marione Schonfeldt (NDoH).

We also had a journalist from Engineering News who did an article reflecting on the contents of the event. All this and more on the link below:
https://buff.ly/YbxCohv

The online resource for trade and industrial policy research in South Africa.