Mpumalanga MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourismm Sikhumbuzo Kholwane, hosted women from Ermelo and surroundings recently at the Civic Centre during a supply chain management road show.
Mr Kholwane emphasised the importance of cooperatives and Small Macro Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) for job creation in the province. He also said most big companies have reached a saturation point in job creation.
However, entrepreneurship and SMMEs are capable of delivering an increased number of jobs for the people.
He also cautioned that this would not succeed unless government provides the necessary support.
“We must not be satisfied with the number of established cooperatives, but engage business to establish a market for the cooperatives in the province.”
Mr Kholwane assured the crowd of more than 300 people that government is determined to make local economy grow, including direct support to small businesses.
He also said his department would name and shame departments that do not pay service providers within the stipulated 30 days’ period.
Cooperatives are a group of people acting together to meet common needs and aspirations of its members, sharing ownership and making decisions democratically.
