Technology Transfer and Business Partnerships in BRICS

Download or read book Technology Transfer and Business Partnerships in BRICS written by Zandi Lesame and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of this paper is to describe explore and describe the emerging economic and political relations that are emerging between the Republic of South Africa and the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries. South Africa joined the Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) group in 2010 and the group subsequently became known as BRICS. The organization hosts annual summits to seek common ground on areas of collaboration and convergence for these major economies, for example in the fields of computing, telecommunications and transport technology through public-private partnerships (PPPs) for business initiatives and interventions. This paper is descriptive and analytic in nature, providing background on economic relations and inequalities existing between the BRICS countries, identifying international partners participating in selected business transactions and stating economic benefits derived by South Africa from these partnerships. It also provides some details of the economic deliberations and partnerships established at the 5th BRICS Summit held in South Africa in 2013, and mentions other BRICS business partnerships entered into in the first half of 2014; especially in innovation and technological advancement of South Africa as a developmental state. The research methodology applied to collect data about this topic is qualitative in nature, the research method being secondary analyses of media content published or broadcast in national media (especially online and traditional newspapers, online videos and television broadcasts) about the BRICS PPPs. A semiotic analysis of the online media was undertaken, where government and business officials involved with BRICS commented about BRICS goals, purposes, programmes and activities. Data analysis involved identification of discussion themes raised by these officials in the data gathered, a discussion and commentary on the issues raised, and an interpretation of and scholarly reflection on these issues by making use of international relations theory. This paper compares the South African economic indicators (e.g. ICT policy) and the status of the country to those of the other BRICS nations, with the main purpose of pointing out the hard facts and deficiencies about South Africa, highlighting the political (or government) leadership and developmental challenges that South Africa has to surmount in order to achieve the developmental heights that have been achieved by her BRIC counterparts which are developmentally more advanced than South Africa. Research results indicate that arising trade and political challenges and frictions are resolved through negotiation and win-win solutions. Additionally, manufacturing initiatives between the BRICS group are regarded as complementary and not competitive. This complementary nature of decision-making is instrumental in specific sectors such as the transport or automobile sectors and ensures job creation in all the countries involved in a project. Infrastructure development projects, such as the development of the inadequate South African telecommunications infrastructure, also assist South Africa with regard to the creation of job opportunities, thus contributing to the reduction of the high unemployment rate. Education (and health) projects between China and South Africa and the improvement of the low South African literacy levels. Against this background, the paper concludes that there are visible economic benefits that South Africa derives from her association with the BRIC group. These benefits could be extended to other African countries through new business partnerships, mergers and empowerment projects since South Africa is regarded as a business gateway to Africa. BRICS is also viewed as representing less dependence of emerging economies on the developed, rich countries in future. This paper was submitted for to an international journal for publication but the author envisages sharing knowledge with other scholars at a conference as a learning curve and academic development.