CoJ recognises importance of entrepreneurs
CoJ host first regional entrepreneurship summit
The Department of Economic Development hosted a Regional Entrepreneurship summit at the Roodepoort Theatre recently.
This event, the first of a series of events that will take place in the various regions of the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), hosted approximately 100 people, who were informed of the City’s new initiative. “As per the department of Economic Development’s 20 17/ 18 financial year deliverables, we have committed to increasing regional economic development and support towards entrepreneurial development. Such an approach can only work through stronger alignment between the department and regional offices as well as collaboration between the City, private sector and small businesses,” said Leah Knott, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Economic Development.
According to the Department, unemployment in the CoJ is currently at 27,7 per cent and youth unemployment at 38,6 per cent. More than 3 000 economic migrants move into the city on a monthly basis and that is why the City’s role needs to evolve to creating enabling environments and not trying to fix the economy.
“A key to assisting entrepreneurs is to collaborate and foster relationships to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem that will bolster the economy and create more jobs – an ecosystem where entrepreneurs collaborate to meet the needs of society and grow the economy,” Knott said.
An entrepreneurship ecosystem comprises the social and economic environment that affects local or regional entrepreneurship. The City’s role is to create an environment that enables entrepreneurs in Johannesburg to prosper through creating policies that meet their direct needs.
Knott added that the entrepreneurship symposium allows the CoJ to be a key player in establishing relationships between entrepreneurs and ecosystem partners.
“This event allows the City to form the foundation of industry-specific working groups that encourage collaboration and work towards creating economic growth. It also helps to shape policy responses in other areas relevant to entrepreneurship,” she said.
Some of the key strategic points the CoJ will be focusing on, include:
• Restructuring, developing and promoting tailor-made CoJ entrepreneurship ecosystems to create actionable plans that will assist in growing entrepreneurship
• Identifying key potential ecosystem partners whose ethics, methods and objectives match those of the CoJ
• Actively seeking out and developing ongoing relationships with the key partners in specific industries
• Developing collaborative and coordinated working groups to create entrepreneurship ecosystems
• Measuring and evaluating actions
She concluded by saying, “This is a citywide event, looking at affirming the City’s position on entrepreneurship and future working groups with regional offices, small business, the private sector, academics and industry players”. For more information on this initiative, follow the Department of Economic Development on the following social media platforms:
• Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/cojerses
• Twitter – @coj_ers https://twitter.com/coj_ers
• Email – entrepreneur@joburg.org.za
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