South Africa’s Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel announced a slew of measures to boost employment and production in critical industries post the COVID-19 outbreak, which has ravaged the economy.

“To prepare for the post-COVID world, we will strengthen efforts around reconstruction and recovery, including broader pacts with workers and businesses, focused on saving many firms and jobs; identifying new opportunities; embracing digital technologies to recover and change, and addressing economic inclusion with greater urgency,” Patel said.

The minister added that South Africa is well-positioned to become a major supplier of industrial goods and value-added services to the continent.