Tag: sectors

South Africa increased its labour force by 22 000 jobs between July and September 2014, and the unemployment rate eased by 0.1 of a percentage point, Statistics South Africa reports.

South Africa's financial services sector, backed by a sound regulatory and legal framework, is sound and sophisticated, boasting dozens of domestic and foreign institutions providing a full range of services.

The leader of information and communication technology development in Africa, South Africa is the 20th largest consumer of IT products and services in the world.

South Africa's scenic beauty, magnificent outdoors, sunny climate, cultural diversity and reputation for delivering value for money have made it one of the world's fastest growing leisure - and business - travel destinations.

South Africa's dual agricultural economy covers both commercial and subsistence production. A diversity of climates allows for effective farming of a range of crops and livestock, and the country is not only self-sufficient in most major agricultural products, but is also a net food exporter.

South Africa's automotive industry is a global, turbo-charged engine for the manufacture and export of vehicles and components. The sector accounts for almost 12% of South Africa's manufacturing exports, making it a crucial cog in the economy.

South Africa is a world leader in mining. The country is famous for its abundance of mineral resources, accounting for a significant proportion of world production and reserves, and South African mining companies are key players in the global industry.

The South African government's national industrial policy framework has identified sectors such as capital goods, transport equipment, automotive manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and forestry as crucial to creating shared growth, encouraging employment and reducing poverty.

As companies worldwide respond to increasing cost and efficiency pressures, South Africa is becoming a favoured international location for business process outsourcing and offshoring.

South Africa's diamond industry, the fourth-largest in the world, has excellent long-term prospects - but needs to polish up its value chain. That's the word from the Diamond Board of SA, which recently tabled its 2003/4 annual report in Parliament.