KwaZulu-Natal’s manufacturing sector has lagged since the pandemic, and there are myriad local and international challenges to contend with as it pursues a revival; however, there are opportunities that manufacturers have capitalised on and scope to bolster this.
This was highlighted by economics insights company Spatial Economics senior economist Justice Matarutse, delivering the keynote address at financial institution Nedbank’s Manufacturing breakfast, held in Mount Edgecombe, KwaZulu-Natal, on August 20.
He pointed out that the province had yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels of productivity, in contrast to other regions in the country.
Matarutse outlined domestic challenges facing the manufacturing base in the province in recent years as including the pandemic, political and social unrest, water challenges, as well as flooding.
This is compounded by international factors, including high trade costs and a wait-and-see approach to US tariffs, he added.
