Minister Rob Davies and MEC Zikalala to officially launch Black Industrialists Programme in KZN
In a strong showing of its seriousness about using entrepreneurship to create jobs and boost the economy, the province of KwaZulu-Natal will this week officially launch the Black Industrialists Programme – a R1billion incentive scheme geared wholly towards growing Black owned businesses so that they become globally competitive.
The launch, to be attended by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Rob Davies and the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr. Sihle Zikalala, will take place on Friday, 2 June at the Department of Public Works in Mayville, Durban.
Minister Davies and MEC Zikalala will, ahead of the launch, conduct a visit to the premises of Mthembu Tissue Converting, a successful Black enterprise based in Phoenix to the north of Durban which is a beneficiary of the Black Industrialists Programme.
Speaking ahead of the launch, MEC Zikalala said the province was bent on seizing opportunities inherent in the Black Industrialists Programme for the benefit of its citizens.
“KwaZulu-Natal has a lot of aspirant and ambitious entrepreneurs, especially from the designated empowerment groupings like women and youth. Thus, our focus is on ensuring that a sizeable portion of the BI budget comes to KZN. This will go a long way towards producing industrialists from the historically excluded communities which our province so desperately needs.”
To this end, Zikalala said, KwaZulu-Natal was iin discussion with the DTI on the creation of a strategic partnership for the implementation of Black Industrialists Programme in KZN.
Members of the media are invited to attend the launch of the Black Industrialists Programme and also join Minister Davis and MEC Zikalala on their visit to Mthembu Tissue Converting occur as follows:
Date: Friday, 2 June 2017
Time: 9h00
Venue: Mthembu Tissue Converting, 356 Aberdare Drive, Phoenix Industrial Park
For more information contact:
Bongani Tembe
Cell: 082 327 2600
Siyabonga Maphumulo
Cell: 082 330 5132
