Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Bulelani Magwanishe has urged black industrialists in the North West to take up opportunities in the province that will enable economic growth.
Speaking at a seminar on the Rural and Township Industrial Economy in Mahikeng, Magwnaishe said the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) is committed to ensuring growth in the province.
As at the end of March 2018, the dti had allocated R415 million for the revitalisation of 11 industrial parks across the country, including the North West’s Babelegi and Garankuwa Industrial Parks.
“The revitalisation of these parks aims to attract further investments and increase local employment and core competencies,” said Magwanishe.
The completion of the revitalisation programme will be followed by investor promotion programmes and the creation of economic hubs to ensure strengthened enterprises in rural and township areas.
“We request black industrialists in this province to therefore apply, to increase economic value and enable an environment for growth. The continued success of these interventions rests with how we continue to develop and mobilise black entrepreneurs,” Magwanishe said at Monday’s seminar.
The seminar, held under the theme ‘Facilitating economic opportunities for small, medium and micro enterprises and community through agro-processing, culture and tourism’, served as a platform to deliberate topical issues that impact on the rural and township economy.
North West Premier, Professor Job Mokgoro, commended the dti for convening the seminar. He said it was about time government moved with speed to implement programmes of this nature for the benefit of citizens.
“We don’t need an extra budget allocation to improve turnaround time in government. Senior management needs to be prompt and responsive as South Africans are growing impatient about the pace at which services are being rendered,” said Mokgoro.
He identified potholes, water and street lights as low hanging fruit that could be speedily attended to.
The dti’s dialogue session took place at a time when the province has identified villages, townships and small dorpies as requiring government attention in terms of access to economic opportunities.
The North West seminar was the fifth seminar in the build-up towards the Presidential Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Rural and Township Economy Summit that will take place in East London from 19 – 20 July 2018.
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