The MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Ms. Makhosazane Masilela says the Department remains committed to strengthen the support to SMMEs and Cooperatives, and to foster partnerships with the private sector in order to collectively make a huge impact in the growth of these small-scale businesses. The MEC said these profound words during the recent Pop-up Exhibition Session, held by the Department in the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality.
The Pop – Up exhibition session was used as a platform for the Department and various Development Finance Institutions (FDI) to engage directly with small enterprises with a view of sharing valuable economic development information and to provide financial and non-financial support.
The hosting of the pop-up session is yet another clearest indication of government’s commitment to support and empower small enterprises, and it is in line with the commitment made by the MEC during her maiden policy and budget speech. The MEC committed the Department to strengthen the support of SMMEs and Cooperatives.
“As a Department, we are expected to play a strategic role towards the realisation of the 7th Administration’s key priorities, particularly, the priority that talks to driving inclusive economic growth. We have a responsibility to foster collaboration with the private sector, with a view come up with strategies geared towards strengthening our support to small enterprises, in order for them to participate in the mainstream economy. The pop-up exhibition session therefore creates the much-needed platform for SMMEs and Cooperatives to engage directly with government funded FDIs for support”, explained MEC Masilela.
MEC Masilela also used the occasion to invite the SMMEs to take advantage of government programmes and interventions aimed at providing support to small enterprises. Equally, the MEC implored the FDIs to reduce the red tape and stringent funding requirement when considering applications from small businesses because they belong to the previously disadvantaged groups.
“SMMEs and Cooperatives plays a crucial role in the alleviation of poverty through the creation of the much needed jobs and reducing unemployment. Accordingly, as a Department, we commit to continuously provide support to this sector. To this end, I wish to invite SMMEs to also play their part by taking full advantage of government intervention programmes aimed at supporting their businesses’, concluded MEC Masilela.
The pop-exhibition session is a programme of the Department geared towards bridging the gap between government, FDIs and small enterprises. The programme will be rolled out across the length and breadth of the Province.
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