He made the appeal at the 2015 FNB Business Excellence Awards held recently at the Wanderers Club in Illovo. The awards are a joint platform with the Italian and South Africa Chamber of Trade and Industries, to recognise and reward outstanding businessmen and women of Italian descent who have contributed immensely to the growth of the South African economy.
“The Gauteng province has a special relationship with the Italians and this relationship goes back… to the dark days of apartheid, and some of us, myself included, spent many years in Italy and learnt a lot of skills which we’re today adapting and applying in our various spheres of operation in the government, public and the private sectors,” Makhura said.
The premier singled out Italian lawyer and businessman in Gauteng, Maurizio Mariano, for his tireless work in building relations and business opportunities between poor South Africans and the Italian business community.
“I would like to see this being taken on a much bigger scale by many Italian business people, to forge business partnerships with our township folk in order to help our country transform the face of its economy,” said Makhura.
“Our economy as is, is not sustainable. We cannot build a country and new democratic institutions when a lot of our people are hungry. I urge Italian business people to partner with township entrepreneurs in order to grow them and their businesses, and also share the knowledge and the skills to run a successful business operation.”
He thanked the outgoing Italian ambassador to South Africa, Vincenzo Schioppa Narrante, for his sterling work in building relationships between South Africa and Italy, not just on the political front but in the business communities as well.
For his part, Narrante said he will cherish the memories of the four years he spent in South Africa, the friendships made, and the successes shared and accomplished.
He paid tribute to the South African-Italian business community whom he said were contributing to the success of the economic strides being witnessed in South Africa today.
Details: Senzi Dlamini 087 335 8277; Senzi.Dlamini@fnb.co.za
