Black Industrialists Programme will help grow economy
The Select Committee on Trade and International Relations has welcomed the Black Industrialists Programme as conceptualised by the Department of Trade and Industry. The Committee received a briefing on the programme today and was informed that the programme would facilitate access to market and capital for black industrialists.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Mr Eddie Makue, said the Committee would want to make sure that the programme used a correct approach to address economic challenges.
“Capitalisation and access to markets are critical in supporting black industrialists. The Committee welcomes the assurance that this programme will not exclude people, but will prioritise a section of our society that was ignored for too long,” Mr Makue said.
“This would put us on a new development paradigm. And it ought to be noted that this is not a project that would benefit those who are politically connected. It will instead help those who are prepared to work as entrepreneurs, prepared to take risks and prepared to control their businesses,” he said.
The Department’s Director General at Mr Lionel October told the Committee that remaining in the periphery of the economy for black industrialists is not enough, they needed to be at the heart of SA’s economy.
Mr Makue said people should not assume that people not associated with the ruling party will be sidelined. “We not driving a political agenda but an economic agenda,” he said.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Sibongile Maputi
Tel: 021 403 8041
Cell: 081 052 6060
E-mail: smaputi@parliament.gov.za
