ORT Jet celebrates entrepreneurs and mentors in gala dinner style at Houghton.
Speaking on November 15, ORT’s head of department Helene Itzkin explained the important role played by the non-profit organisation.
“The national development plan places small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at the forefront of addressing poverty and creating employment in the country. The planning visions that in 2030, this sector will contribute 60–80% to the GPD growth and employ 90% of the country’s workforce. Therefore, the support that ORT Jet offers SMEs is critical, each year we invite entrepreneurs and business owners to join the ORT Jet programme.”
Itzkin added that ORT onboarded over 50 new businesses this year and have close to 165 businesses currently on their programme.
Sasfin Bank’s CEO Michael Sasson said the bank’s relationship with ORT Jet stemmed from years ago.
“We’re passionate about entrepreneurship which is something we’ve been committed to since the bank was founded, which has made us a financial institution that supports entrepreneurs. Often entrepreneurs struggle to access finance and that’s been the modus operandi of Sasfin and we see that as our purpose because entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of any economy.”
Itzkin added that the NGO provided businesses with an opportunity for growth through training and networking and access to mentors.
Israeli Ambassador to South Africa Eli Belotsercovsy praised ORT Jet’s impact.
“I studied in Tel Aviv and have first-hand experience what ORT is about and the type of impact it has. I’ve been in South Africa for a year and have met a lot of young people who have entrepreneurial skills, but there also has to be a mechanism that will be able to harness the potential and I think ORT Jet is in a good position to participate and to significantly contribute to the process of harnessing budding entrepreneurs.”
