5 May 2006
The members of the Executive Council (ExCo) of Mpumalanga Province led by
Premier, Mr Thabang Makwetla, met with the leadership of the National Federated
Chamber of Commerce (NAFCAC) led by their provincial President Sydney Kunene at
a historic conference at Loskop Dam on Friday, 5 May 2006.
The conference was also attended by most of the provincial executive mayors,
municipal managers, chief executive officers of state owned enterprises and
senior public servants. They explored challenges that are being faced by the
business community in their interaction with government. The issues that were
discussed in commissions included procurement process; contract management;
access to finance and compliance.
The discussions were held in a very constructive manner. The delegates also
looked at how the black small, macro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) could
benefit from the procurement processes of government.
The Premier in his speech said, âI may even venture to say our province has
not performed well compared to other provinces regarding the growth of a post,
1994 black middle class. This places a heavy responsibility on those
institutions in the province that carry the mandate to economically empower the
previously disadvantaged beneficiaries.â
At the end of the conference there was a general agreement that the parties
need to ensure that a visible process to empower previously disadvantaged
business people must be implemented with urgency.
For further details contact:
Lebona Mosia
Cell: 082 561 6465
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
5 May 2006
Source: Mpumalanga Provincial Government (http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za)
