Limpopo journalists will get an opportunity to learn more about the national Department of Trade and industry’s (the dti) Special Economic Zones and Black Industrialists programmes at a media seminar that the department will host at the Polokwane Royal Hotel on 26 June 2015.
The purpose of the seminar is to familiarise journalists with the department’s two new flagship programmes which are aimed at adding new impetus to the growth and transformation of the economy of South Africa.
“Our department fundamentally recognises the critical role that journalists, as members of the Fourth Estate, play in a democratic society like ours. Their capacity to empower communities with information that add value to their lives, and enabling them to benefit from a variety of government programmes can never be overemphasised,” says the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mzwandile Masina.
He adds that journalists can only make a meaningful contribution in their communities if they themselves are sufficiently empowered, equipped with the necessary information, and familiar with opportunities that the consumers of their media can access and explore to change their lives for the better.
“It is against this background that our department has organised a session to share information with journalists about the two crucial programmes of the department,” emphasises Masina.
Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are an important tool to support the country’s long-term industrialisation objectives and the development of new industrial capabilities. The development of SEZs is primarily aimed at increasing the flow of domestic and foreign direct investment and to increase the export of value-added commodities.
There are two SEZs that have been proposed for establishment in Limpopo.
The Black Industrialists Programme was launched by the Deputy Minister Masina in Johannesburg in August last year. At the launch, Masina said the dti would create hundred Black Industrialists in the next three years, who will participate in the productive sectors of the economy as part of government’s radical economic transformation programme.
While addressing the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) during the dti’s Budget Vote in Cape Town Last month, Masina indicated that South Africa’s industrial economy was spatially concentrated and systematically leaves out great sections of the population in investment-starved regions.
“It is for this reason that we have underpinned our Black Industrialists Programme with the principle of spatial investment. This means that we need to create an entrepreneurial group that will exploit the industrial potential in all provinces of our country, especially rural areas,” adds Masina.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
