New trade and industry leadership expected to use industrial policy levers to support key sectors

With industrial policy back in fashion in many economies, business and policy specialists expect new Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau to prioritise measures to support key sectors, including those aligned to the emerging green economy. The former Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister and City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor has been appointed to the position in the government of national unity (GNU) together with two deputies, Zuko Godlimpi, also of the African National Congress, and Andrew Whitfield, of the Democratic Alliance.