The Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry rejects the suggestion that money spent on an exhibition by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Parliament during its budget vote in Parliament amounted to “wasteful expenditure”.
This comes after one member of the Committee made the “wasteful expenditure” allegation. But according to Committee Chairperson, Ms Joanmariae Fubbs, this was an occasion to bring together all stakeholders, regardless of their political persuasion or affiliation. “It is not fruitless expenditure. Rather it is responsible expenditure that added value to the budget and the priorities of employment and economic growth,” says Ms Fubbs.
The purpose of the exhibition during the Budget Debate was to showcase actual programmes and output of the issues contained in the speeches, and serve as a platform to interact with MPs about the various programmes offered by the department and its agencies. The exhibition also served as an information resource for MPs to take information materials for distribution to their constituencies.
For the 2013 Budget Vote debate, the DTI invited 150 delegates, including Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of its agencies, representatives of organised business and labour, traditional leaders, and technology development programme participants. A two-day exhibition was organised to run parallel to the Budget Vote debate on the 15 and 16 May in the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) respectively.
Ten agencies of the DTI participated in the exhibition and disseminated information on the programmes. The exhibition cost R54 000, the catering R52 000 and the sound system and related incidentals R14 000.
The delegates or people who attended the post Budget Vote debate cocktail on 15 May came from all provinces of our country. It was only appropriate that the DTI as host allowed delegates and stakeholders an opportunity for interaction, not only about the speech, but on any other issues relating to the DTI and its agencies.
MPs were invited to the cocktail to interact with representatives of government, particularly those from the DTI and its agencies, representatives from business and labour. The cocktail function took place in a Parliament restaurant, primarily due to consideration of convenience and to minimise cost.
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