The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (the dti), Maria Ntuli, says the support that the South African government and various economic development agencies provide to local co-operatives, will be increased, as part of the country's collective response to the current economic crisis.
Deputy Minister Ntuli was speaking at the official opening function of the 2009 National Co-operatives Conference and Exhibition, hosted by the Msunduzi Local Municipality, at the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal last night. The four-day event, which is being attended by members of co-operatives and government officials from the nine provinces, will culminate in the International Co-operatives Day celebrations, at the Pietermaritzburg Oval Cricket Stadium, on Saturday, 4 July 2009. The theme of the conference is 'Global Recovery through Co-operative Development'.
"Our government has prioritised the development of co-operatives and continues to work tirelessly to strengthen and develop the co-operative movement, as part of its effort to turn the gloomy tide of economic crisis affecting the entire world. We value the capacity and importance of co-operatives to create employment, build sustainable livelihoods, reduce poverty and contribute to the growth of the country’s economy. They also assist in the empowerment and uplifting of the marginalised segment of our population located mainly in the second economy," said Ntuli.
She added that national and provincial financial and economic development agencies, such as the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), Ithala Development Finance Corporation, Limpopo Business Support Agency (LIBSA), and the South African Micro-finance Apex Fund (SAMAF), have developed unique financial products that are tailor-made to respond to the financial challenges facing co-operatives. These financial products were being scaled-up and tweaked in response to the current economic crisis.
The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Zweli Mkhize, said the conference and exhibition would create a platform for members of co-operatives from all over the country to share ideas and experiences in order to learn from each other and strengthen the co-operatives movement in South Africa.
"The co-operative movement is part of the struggle to eradicate poverty, by creating employment for people both in urban and rural areas. Their strength lies in the fact that groups of people are pooling their human and financial resources together and work for a common goal. We are impressed by the fact that co-operatives are being established over the country.
The government is there to provide an environment conducive for the co-operatives to grow, through financial support, and training of members, in order to provide them with the necessary skills required to run co-operatives as businesses. We are convinced that as a collective, people will achieve more than they would have as individuals," said Mkhize.
The Acting MEC of Economic Development and Tourism in KwaZulu-Natal, Ina Cronje, also addressed the function. She said the private sector and other social partners needed to work together in developing strategies that would enhance the role of co-operatives in the South African economy and social transformation.
"Crucially important is the provision of both technical and business skills development programmes for aspirant entrepreneurs to ensure their sustainability in the highly competitive global economy," added Cronje.
For more information, contact:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 073 522 6801
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
2 July 2009
Source: Department of Trade and Industry (http://www.dti.gov.za)
