Govt reviews 'stagnant' EDD
Mbongeni Mguni | Wednesday August 21, 2019 08:57
EDD is an initiative under which government uses its purchasing power to enhance local production and consumption through local procurement.
However, officials said the initiative had stalled, accounting for only 53% of government’s procurement.
Addressing journalists this morning, Investment, Trade and Industry minister, Bogolo Kenewendo said extending beyond 53% had proved to be a challenge and the consultants engaged would help government identify gaps and where to refocus the initiative.
She stressed that the review would be based on engagement with the private sector and a report from the consultants was due before the end of the month. Since its inception, the EDD has accounted for P40.4 billion of government procurement.
Economic Diversification Drive Unit director, Rosina Bantsi told Mmegi the review was timely.
“EDD has stagnated at 53% meaning there’s not enough procurement locally, which was the main thing we wanted in the initiative,” she said.
Government is the single largest buyer in the domestic economy, followed by mining as an industry which also recently introduced its own version of the EDD.