The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Maria Ntuli and the head of the European Union (EU) delegation to South Africa, Lodewijk Briët today celebrated the successes of the EU funded Sector-wide Enterprise, Employment and Equity Programme Fund (SWEEEP).
The programme was established in April 2003 to support the implementation of South Africa’s overall macroeconomic reform strategic objectives, particularly the Integrated Manufacturing Strategy (IMS) and strategies for small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) development and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). A total amount of R477 million has been distributed since the inception of the programme to more than 40 projects.
The programme promoted direct investment and growth in the industrial and services economy, with particular focus on employment creation. It further:
- Raised the level of exports and promoting equitable global trade
- Contributed towards Africa’s development and regional integration of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
Major achievements include:
- Support to the fruit canning industry which advanced the creation of a partnership between government, local authority and workers, saving and creating a number of jobs in the fruit farming and canning business
- Supporting government’s Industrial Policy Action Plan 2010/11 to 2012/13 (IPAP 2) in the industrial sector including:
- Centurion Aerospace Village
- Intsimbi National Tooling Initiative
- Isivande Women’s Fund, for women entrepreneurs
- Funding the film production of Blood Diamond, to the value of R10 million, resulting in R149,239 million of capital inflow to the South African economy.
The EU has since donated an additional R1 billion to the South African government for the next three years for the new Employment Creation Programme which seeks to support the Economic and Employment Cluster’s Plan of Action.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Source: Department of Trade and Industry
