The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), in collaboration with the Presidential B-BBEE Advisory Council and the entire government will be hosting the first ever National B-BBEE Summit from the 3rd and 4th October 2013 at Gallagher Estate Midrand. The Summit signifies the celebration of 10 year of empowerment since the B-BBEE Act was promulgated in 2003.
The theme for the summit
The theme for the Summit can be centered on ‘A Decade of Economic Empowerment ‘(2003 to 2013). the dti intends to re-orientate the framework and to re-position B-BBEE as a catalyst for economic growth and development; to demystify the myth of B-BBEE being demonised and viewed as non-productive and not growing the economy.
The objectives of the national B-BBEE Summit
The Summit will present a good platform for the government to conduct the following activities, amongst others:
- Unveil the amended B-BBEE Act and refined B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice
- Release the B-BBEE research studies conducted by the dti, including the follow-up on the baseline study
- Showcase some of the success stories on B-BBEE in the past decade
- Facilitate and host an exhibition with the aim of show casing business opportunities, access to finance and success stories in all 9 provinces
- Facilitate debate on the strategic direction of this country’s economic transformation policy
- Conduct benchmarks with other international developing countries
- Discuss strategies of positioning B-BBEE as a growth and development model for South African economy. (its role in job creation, poverty eradication, economic growth and development, SMME development).
The outlook of this summit is thought to be along the following pillars:
Exhibitions:
- All provinces with their stalls and success stories
- Small and micro enterprises from all provinces
- Corporates and state owned enterprises
- the dti’s and provincial economic development agencies
Conference:
- Opening and plenary on the first day by the President
- Report by Advisory Council
- Private sector perspective
- Overview of the South African economy
- Four commissions debating on key issues around B-BBEE
- Round table discussions by Ministers on DFI on Industrialisation and B-BBEE
- the dti incentives
- Different topics discussed in the commissions
- International speakers from other countries
Progress to date on B-BBEE
Much progress has been recorded since the initiation stages of the transformation, and there is a lot to reflect on this past decade of transformation. Such enactment was followed by gazetting of the Codes of Good Practice in 2007, which provided an implementation framework for transformation.
Trade and Industry (the dti) managed to put together decisive instructional mechanisms, including, but not limited to Verifications Systems, gazetting of Sector Charters, Equity Equivalent Investment programme, appointment of the Presidential B-BBEE Advisory Council, to name but few. These institutional mechanisms are responsible for overall effective monitoring of the implementation of B-BBEE.
Furthermore, there are lots of success stories which were borne and influenced by the enactment of the B-BBEE Act and the Codes of Good Practice. These success stories are mainly through procurement opportunities, enterprise development of ordinary enterprises, opportunities to buy stakes in existing corporates by ordinary black people. B-BBEE has unlocked opportunities for most aspiring and emerging black enterprises.
There is a need to continuously re-asses this progress from time-to time, in order to ensure that stakeholders, practitioners, and other role players converge to assess the progress of the implementation of B-BBEE.
One of the key achievements of the Presidential BBBEE Advisory Council since December 2009, was the development of recommendations which sought to review the B-BBEE Act and the Codes of Good Practice. Such work is almost finalised and its details will be revealed at the upcoming Summit.
The Summit will create a platform for exhibitions, networking between micro enterprises and big businesses, government, State-Owned Enterprises, Private businesses, Labour and Multinationals. There will be plenary and commissions which will unpack and discuss about all aspects of the B-BBEE policy.
The magnitude of B-BBEE demands that the progress be assessed from time to time, whereby providing an environment for stakeholders, practitioners and other role players to converge and assess the progress of the implementation of B-BBEE.
Furthermore, the National Summit will showcase National, Provincial and Local government and its products and services that have been crafted to benefit the recipients of B-BBEE. It will also show case the unsung success stories and governments efforts to ensure true and meaningful transformation and distribution of wealth and resources to the majority of South Africans.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 079 492 1774
Tel: 012 394 1650
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Twitter: @the_dti
