The present positive outlook should see growth trends return to four percent by 2011, the department of trade and industry (dti) said on Wednesday.

Acting deputy director general of the dti, Sipho Zikode, told the four day Competitiveness Week Summit held in Boksburg that in order to achieve these levels of growth, it was necessary to increase both productivity performance and competitiveness.

"In this regard the aim of government is to strengthen competitiveness and promote small, medium and micro enterprises as well as co-operatives for the creation of sustainable jobs." said Zikode.

He said the dti would encourage levels of competitiveness of South African companies with renewed focus on increasing capabilities of previously underdeveloped regions.

Speaking on behalf of the National Economic Development and Labour Council, executive director Herbert Mkhize said industrial action had become a threat to productivity.

"For productivity to happen there must be harmony around the workplace," Mkhize said.

He said government needed to play a major role in developing competitiveness in order to compete on a global scale.

The summit will end on June 4.

Sapa

World's cheapest petrol Where will motorists find the cheapest petrol in the world? We provide a price list...

Cough up for Gautrain A trip on the Gautrain between Sandton and OR Tambo airport won't be a cheap affair.

'Give blacks their share' Giving 40% of white owed farms to blacks is a "small donation in the name of justice".