By Obakeng Maje
Government has prioritised entrepreneurship and the advancement of Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) as the catalyst to achieving economic growth and development.

This was reiterated by minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu at mouth-watering Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) in Klerksdorp on Monday.

Those who attended the event were business owners across the province, North West MEC for Finance, Economy, Enterprise Development (FEED) and various stakeholders like Seta, NWDC and North West Business Forum.

Minister Lindiwe Zulu said with the assistance of other government departments and institutions, her department takes the lead in implementing SMME-related policies, to ensure that adequate financial and non-financial assistance is provided to the sector, for its long-term prosperity and that of the country as a whole.

“I am confident that all of us gathered here are inspired by possibilities and opportunities presented by government’s new emphasis on small business and co-operative development” Zulu said.

She said Provincial summits seek to enhance co-ordinated and integrated support to small businesses and co-operatives.

Zulu also outlined that the summit provide a perfect opportunity t remind all three spheres of government of the challenges that confront small enterprises.

“As a department, we are determined to discharge our mandate of leading an integrated approach to the promotion and development of small businesses and co-operatives

“President Jacob Zuma placed small business at the centre stage of radical economic transformation when he asserted that small business is big business. So, for us in the economic sector, this statement must serve as a clarion call to action and a bold assertion about the critical importance of small businesses and co-operatives in economic transformation, job creation and economic inclusion” she said.

Minister Lindiwe Zulu said the country’s ongoing  entrepreneurial revolution was given renewed impetus by the announcement that South Africa will host the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Congress.

“This award is a tribute to South Africa’s entrepreneurs who lobbied hard for the establishment of a separate  and dedicated department that would focus exclusively on small businesses and co-operatives” she said.

Some of entrepreneurs applaud Zulu’s department, however said they’re still facing with minor challenges like not being founded and lack of resources to sustain their businesses.

“We’re very impressed minister about the plans on place, however if the department can speed-up some assistance programme so that our businesses can receive concrete support to make them sustainable” Leatile Mokone from schweizer Reneke said.

Another business person, Mothusi Maruping from Tlotlego Poultry in Taung said there are challenges that they came across in running their business and will need assistance.

“We once started a poultry co-operative, but it was not sustainable and other members decided to abandoned the project. We would like to  check with you minister if there is any possibility to revive our business by getting proper training and workshops” Maruping said.

The minister Lindiwe Zulu advised all aspiring entrepreneurs to have required documents so that when they approach sectors for funding, the get support.

“We must, out of this gathering, emerge with building blocks. For robust and sustainable programmes that will firmly place SMME’s and co-operatives at the centre of accelerated economic growth and development.

“I am confident that the calibre of people who are attending this summit will assist us to find creative and effective ways of ensuring that small businesses become the true catalyst for accelerated growth and development” she concludes.

North West MEC Wendy Nelson for FEED said the vision of  her department is to see a radically transformed economy through effective development and increased. Participation of SMME’s and co-operatives in the province economy.

-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_