Of Buy South African Policy
There was a campaign that a South African company launched ten years ago whose aim is to convince South Africans to buy local products to be create a number of jobs for the people. It is called Proudly South African and it has been awarded the government’s support just recently. Sadly, it has been overshadowed by the recession and the recently held FIFA World Cup.1 It is currently undergoing into sort of a revival. Despite of its ten years of existence, many South Africans are yet to learn about it.
The key principle behind this campaign is to stimulate the manufacturing activity in the country, thus, creating jobs. Because of the support thrown in by the government, the campaign will be using the Industrial Policy Action Plan and the New Growth Path to further maximize the operation of the advocacy.2
The Industrial Policy Action Plan was launched by the trade and industry department last year in effort to generate jobs and increase economic growth. It promotes industrialization and diversification to achieve their desired results. Its main goal is to increase production by competing against imports. The government hopes that this will be the start of the better days. The target number of jobs to created is 2.5 million in the next ten years.3
However, they themselves admit that this step is not going to be easy. The culture is the target. The Acting CEO of Proudly SA Mkhize himself said that they needed to create a culture of proud South Africans.4 As part of the campaign, they have done signature campaigns wherein the signees will have to pledge that they are only going to buy locally made products.
Another thing that they must work on is in the issue of price. This issue however is under the jurisdiction of Competition Commission. Nonetheless, at least they have already done the most important step.5
I personally agree to the goals of this advocacy. Buying your own is one way of supporting your country in your own little way. You may not know it, but the proceeds of your money will go the government. We also have this advocacy in our country, but sadly, like the situation in South Africa, it doesn’t also receive support from the people. But it is important to have advocacies like this because they open up our eyes to the things we could do to our respective countries.
I believe that this policy will create many jobs in the manufacturing factories to be constructed because of this program. Factories will not operate without human resources so it is logically convincing to think that this will indeed create jobs for the people. Another good thing about Proudly SA is the fact that they have partnered with various sectors to ensure their success. I can see their passion for this advocacy and how they are committed in doing the greater good.
Just like what is stated in the overview of the Proudly SA campaign, buying the local products will increase the demand for locally – produced goods, thus, creating opportunities to people and increasing economic growth. We should not worry for we are assured of responsible business practices that are guided by membership criteria.6
There is no need to worry for the quality of product though they don’t include products of low quality in their market. Locally – made are not necessarily low – quality. In fact, they are even more high – quality because the people who made those handled those products with care for it is their own sweat.
The author agrees that buying locally – made products does indeed help the country. It does boost economic growth and creates more opportunities. It’s just a matter of trusting the government.
References:
1 Proudly South African, 2001. Proudly South African (Online) Available:
http://www.proudlysa.co.za/section/about.asp?include=../area/about_us/about.html&title=../gfx/pages/about.jpg [4 May 2011]
2Proudly South African, 2001. Proudly South African (Online) Available:
http://www.proudlysa.co.za/section/about.asp?include=../area/about_us/about.html&title=../gfx/pages/about.jpg [4 May 2011]
3Department of Trade and Industry, 2010. Trade and Industry Launches New Industrial Policy Action Plan (Online) Available: http://www.sabinetlaw.co.za/economic-affairs/articles/trade-and-industry-launches-new-industrial-policy-action-plan [4 May 2011] 4Citizen, 2011. The revival of Proudly SA (online) Available: http://www.proudlysa.co.za/area/media_room/2011/april/180411_Citizen.pdf [4 May 2011] 5Citizen, 2011. The revival of Proudly SA (online) Available: http://www.proudlysa.co.za/area/media_room/2011/april/180411_Citizen.pdf [4 May 2011]
6 Proudly South African, 2001. Proudly South African (Online) Available:
http://www.proudlysa.co.za/section/about.asp?include=../area/about_us/about.html&title=../gfx/pages/about.jpg [4 May 2011]
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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