Business Expo aims to promote growth in Nkangala

The second Nkangala Business Expo was in full swing for two days. The expo was held over October 25 and 26 at Portuguese Hall Grounds. The theme was ‘Growing your business to the next level’.

The two day activities were an intensive interactive session for entrepreneurs who wished to take their businesses to the next level. Experienced speakers lead the discussions and seminars giving invaluable advice, and hands on experience in various topics of the expo guided by the need to ensure a participatory economy where the youth, women, workers, rural masses and the people with disability benefit from the natural wealth of the country.

The business breakfast dialogue held on Thursday saw the Minister of Economic Development Mr Ebrahim Patel on the podium.

The Minister reiterated that the expo wants to educate business owners about procurement processes for clear dealings, etiquette and most importantly to uplift small businesses in order to support local economy.

“This platform acts as a forum for business people to know policies,” explained Patel.

The Minister said Mpumalanga province has a population of four and a half million people, meaning if Mpumalanga was a country it would have a larger economy than Zimbabwe’s.

The Minister of Economic Development Mr Ebrahim Patel at the Nkangala Business Expo on Thursday, October 26.

“Even though the province has grown in terms of creating a quarter of new jobs, our challenge as a country is to crush the unemployment rate,” said Patel.

Patel pointed out that having a business is about solving problems and in the process making money. He further said that small businesses have bigger challenges as opposed to big businesses. This is because the big businesses have been in existence for a long time and have a solid reputation. There must be a partnership between small and big businesses. The Minister made an example of Kusile Power Station. This Power Station is one of the largest coal Power Station’s currently employing 18 000 people where 6 000 of the individuals come from Nkangala District.

“What this example shows is that we are practical in our work and for that we will grow. Another issue that backlogs progress is corruption as that hurts the poor. One cannot be expected to pay an amount of money when looking for a job. It is for this reason that we must unite society and small businesses for them not to fall into corruption. We must strive for a clean, effective and corruption free government,” emphasised Patel.

The Minister mentioned the different organisations that assist people who are in business or want to start a business. He spoke about the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) which is for a business plan and funding.
The Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA) owned by Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) was also brought up which assists persons in getting money from national government. It provides loans to small businesses and helps with a marketing plan.

“We have potential and we are capable of implementing things. South Africa created a swimming pool cleaner. Let us support our local economy,” encouraged Patel.

Overall the expo aimed to promote growth in Nkangala, boosting speakers such as Cllr Linah Malatji (Nkangala District Mayor) and Mr Aubrey Mzobe (Eskom Kusile Power Station Acting Project Director).

The second instalment of the expo was an initiative of the Executive Mayor of the Nkangala District together with Eskom Kusile Power Station Project, Standard Bank and Vitrovian.

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