SmartXchange Gets New CEO

_{Looking Smart: City Manager Michael Sutcliffe, Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo, Outgoing SmartXchange CEO Martin Cele, new CEO Robynne Erwin and SmartXchange Chairman Themba Ngcobo}

Story Written By Sohana Singh

Robynne Erwin was inducted as CEO of SmartXchange, the City’s IT incubator and hub, at a function which honoured it’s partners recently.

She is part of the team responsible for much of the facility’s success over the years and spearheaded a unique skills development programme for SMMEs in the IT sector. Situated next to the ICC, SmartXchange provides an ideal business hub for SMMEs. One of Smart-Xchange’s key objectives is to build the IT base of SMMEs in the city. As such, it offers an extensive range of assistance to small companies.

These services include technical and business training, meeting rooms and fully equipped professional boardrooms, free internet access as well as networking sessions with corporations from the IT cluster. Since its inception in 2004,SmartXchange has invested heavily in building the capacity of SMMEs and their employees to enable them to become globally competitive.

Promoting entrepreneurs is a key engine to economic development,” said Dr Rajesh Neerachand, Facilities Manager at the Xchange. “Key to meeting these objectives are partnerships. Over the years Smart-Xchange’s partnership base has grown considerably in the public and private sector. This body of companies plays an active role in SMME development,” said Dr Neerachand. Robynne Erwin says the hub is passionate about facilitating partnerships at all levels and encourages both individuals and business delegations to visit the hub for guided tours.

“The SmartXchange building is a hive of activity buzzing with a large cross section of organisations most of whom are in the ICT industry. Many of the tenants have been or still are partners,” said Erwin. “The success of the SmartXchange programme has been recognised globally as a role model and we look forward to welcoming new SMMEs.”

SmartXchange is shortly to hold interviews for a new intake of SMMEs and encourages budding entrepreneurs to complete the application form. For more info phone 031 307 1988, visit their website at www.smartxchange.co.za or email info@smartxchange.co.za.