Aspiring and established young entrepreneurs in mainly rural provinces often overlook entrepreneurship opportunities right on their door steps and flock to urban areas.
In 2009, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) commissioned research that looked at entrepreneurship development in Limpopo, a mainly rural province. The study revealed that opportunities exist in mining, transport, tourism, agriculture and related manufacturing industries.
On 20 to 22 April 2010, established and aspiring young entrepreneurs, youth development practitioners, business support organisations, research organisations and big business will converge at the Limpopo Business Exhibition and Entrepreneurship Development Conference 2010 to discuss how young entrepreneurs can take advantage of opportunities in these Limpopo key growth sectors.
Running under the theme: "Building Sustainable and Globally Competitive Youth small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs)," the Limpopo Business Exhibition and Entrepreneurship Development Conference 2010 is an initiative of the National Youth Development Agency and the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET).
The event seeks to debate the latest entrepreneurship models and success stories, create business linkages between young entrepreneurs, service providers, financial institutions and potential clients and focus on making available tools, systems and processes for young entrepreneurs and practitioners to build growth oriented small businesses.
"Sponsors of the event include the Limpopo Office of the Premier, Standard Bank, MTN Foundation, Nedbank Foundation, and Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO). We are pleased that they have come on board because they all have a wealth of information that we can avail to entrepreneurs and that will hopefully inspire aspiring entrepreneurs that still have doubts about self employment," says Andile Lungisa, the NYDA Chairperson.
500 delegates are expected at the Entrepreneurship Development Conference which will take place on the 21 April 2010 at Jack Botes hall, Polokwane. R50 gets you into the conference if you are a young entrepreneur. Young entrepreneurs' products and services and business development organisations' programmes and services will be showcased at the Limpopo Business Exhibition taking place on the 22 April 2010, opposite Jack Botes hall. The exhibition is free to the public and exhibiting youth SMMEs only pay R200.
On the last evening of the Limpopo Business Exhibition and Entrepreneurship Development Conference 2010 Limpopo's finest entrepreneurs and youth development practitioners will be honoured during an award ceremony that will include the following categories: best Limpopo Business Exhibition stand, entrepreneur who has created the most jobs and has the highest turnover and youth development practitioner who has supported the development of a business plan that has accessed the largest funding amount.
"This is an event not to be missed, we have everything for everyone, established and aspiring young entrepreneurs can attend the conference and exhibit, business support organisations and youth development practitioners can share ideas and reach out to their market and the general public can come and see products and services that will be exhibited," Pitsi Moloto, Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism MEC, concludes.
Issued by: National Youth Development Agency
14 April 2010
Source: National Youth Development Agency (http://www.nyda.gov.za/)
