The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe says skills development and empowering small micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) is key to job creation. Thabethe was speaking at the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti’s) outreach campaign hosted today in Hammaskraal.
The purpose of the outreach event was to strengthen government’s commitment to empowering peri-urban communities to accelerate job creation and sustainable economic development in the country.
Thabethe said government is keen to assist entrepreneurs who are passionate and show interest in developing themselves and creating jobs.
“We have different incentives and programmes that are in place for entrepreneurs and SMMEs to access. It is not only the dti that is working with small businesses, the different agencies of the dti and local municipalities also have a role to play in developing the sector,” said Thabethe.
Thabethe urged SMMEs to be patient and be cautious of how they do business. She also encouraged the community and entrepreneurs to constantly engage the dti directly and avoid using intermediaries that extort hundreds of rand from them.
“We have a call centre that is there to assist anyone who wants information about our products and services and none of our call centre agents are meant to be paid by anyone except government,” said Thabethe.
Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), National Gambling Board (NGB), National Empowerment Fund (NEF), National Credit Regulator (NCR), Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), and the Industrial Development Incentive Administration (IDIA) division within the dti also gave presentations about their products and services.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Follow us on Twitter: @the_dti
