SEDIBENG. – The conference aims to bring opportunities and open up the economy to entrepreneurs under Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME).
The conference follows the first Sedibeng Investment Conference which was held at the Emerald Resort and Casino Hotel where local and international investors pledged to bring about R40 billion in projects to reignite the economy of the Vaal Region.
Speaking during the conference, Gauteng Premier David Makhura said that the aim of convening the SMME conference was reigniting the economy of the Vaal Triangle through SMME’s.
“We are inspired by a common vision of a smart, green, exclusive, integrated sustainable urban eco-system with biodiversity and a thriving blue economy in the Gauteng City Region.
“We are also determined to ensure that the Sedibeng District, including the entire Vaal Triangle, becomes the cornerstone of a new thriving Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Vaal River Smart City.”
Makhura said some of the high growth sectors being prioritised are the Automotive Industry, Financial Services, Tourism, Biomedical and Cannabis Industry.
Makhura further said the revitalisation of the economy through businesses owned by young people and women would also be prioritised.
Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, Parks Tau, says: “We need to ensure that SMME’s, Township SMME’s in particular are empowered as the new Vaal Region arises.
Tau said targeted special transformation was important in order for economic inclusion. He further stated that much more inclusive and deliberate ways of building the capacity of SMME’s was equally important.
“We need to open up space to the vast majority of SMME’s in townships. In order for this to work, the rules need to change in order to make it easy for SMME’s in townships to get marketing and funding.”
Tau urged SMME’s to register their businesses, emphasising that most businesses could not benefit from the Covid-19 relief fund, as they were not registered and non-compliant with the rules that govern SMME’s.
The conference was also graced by various organisations offering financial and non financial assistance to businesses. The different organisations gave in-depth presentations on the kind of services they offer to SMME’s.
Previously, Makhura said that entrepreneurs would have to get themselves prepared to seize opportunities that would be brought by the R40 billion investment that is in the pipeline for the Sedibeng Region.
