JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (ADV) – South Africa’s Minister of Economic Opportunities, Beverley Schafer has said entrepreneurs and small businesses play an incredibly important role in the economy and in job creation.
She said this while applauding the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT)’s Agri-Processing Support Program which has helped small businesses in the Western Cape Province grow their sales, profitability, increase cash flow and creating new jobs.
“The Western Cape Government’s Project Khulisa growth strategy identified three sectors with high growth potential,” said Schafer.
“Our focus is to grow the economy and create new jobs. The sectors are: Agri-processing, tourism and oil and gas. In the Agri-processing sector, Project Khulisa identified offering support to small businesses as a key lever for growth. The support programme was aimed at fast tracking the development and growth of the 22 SMMEs by helping to improve their systems, and better positioning them to take up market opportunities. At the end of 2017, 22 SMEs were selected to be part of the programme and receive support in various forms throughout 2018.”
The Agri-processing Supplier Development Program assisted businesses through a structured process, identifying key issues hindering or required to enhance business models and operations.
These included operational improvements, assistance in the acquisition of key resources, strategic sales and marketing support, brand building interventions, competitiveness enhancement relating to pricing, brand visibility, capacity improvements & achieving industry accreditations and product development and commercialization.
The minister has also expressed happiness on the progress of the initiatives.
“We have seen excellent results with this program in the past. In 2016, we supported 21 businesses and saw 14 of them increasing their turn-over by a combined total of R15.9 million, creating employment for 89 additional staff.
“The initial results from the 2017/18 group are positive and exciting and we wish these businesses and their staff well as they continue to develop and grow from this experience,” added Schafer.
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