Date: 2021-10-04 06:33:37
Enterprise-and_Supplier-Development-Business-Breakfast
PRESS RELEASE
18/04/2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Enterprise and Supplier Development Business Breakfast
The eThekwini Municipality, along with Smart Procurement World, have called on big business to step up and assist emerging businesses.
This was one of the vital points of discussion at the Enterprise and Supplier Development Business Breakfast held at the Elangeni Hotel on 17 April.
The breakfast session was also a lead up to the 4th annual Smart Procurement World Conference which will take place from 03 – 05 June.
The conference will see hundreds of delegates, industry speakers, approximately 100 small business representatives and a two day networking opportunity. The theme of the three day event will be “Governance that transforms,” with the focus on Supply Chain Management as an enabler to inclusive and sustainable growth.
Chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee, Councillor Thabani Luthuli said: “Business survival statistics in South Africa show that, without assistance as many as 70% of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa fail in their first two years of existence.”
“To ensure sustainability, these businesses need the support and guidance of a knowledgeable, established and well-connected ESD Model that is sector specific with collaboration between private sector and local government,” Councillor Luthuli added.
Head of the City’s Supply Chain Management Unit, Andre Petersen explained the ESD programme. “We are committed to the continued development and growth of the regions SMME suppliers. The growth of our suppliers means the growth of our economy. We need to start unlocking opportunities for them that will propel them and help them compete with bigger suppliers.”
While Deputy Head of SCM Operations, Sandile Ngcobo added: “The intention for this development programme is to support, develop, train and incubate suppliers for the City and region to engage with in future. These will serve to build capacity of local suppliers and assist with increasing the database of local content compliant small businesses in eThekwini Municipality.”
Chief Operating Officer of Smart Procurement World, Debbie Tagg said that they are pleased with the City’s efforts to develop and grow small businesses and that big business must come to the party. “It is a collective effort. We can only do great things if we hold each other’s hands. The aim of this initiative is to capacitate, expose and equip SMME’s with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed.”
The City urged business leaders to pledge their support towards the cause. The goal is to raise between R2million and R5million so that 100 SMME’s can be equipped through the programme. Russell Curtis from Invest Durban explained: “Many companies may not know how to go about contributing to Enterprise and Supplier Development. Many are often too busy or don’t have the capacity. However the responsibility is ours to ensure that emerging businesses are assisted so they can also contribute economically.”
Ends.
Issued by eThekwini Municipality, Communications Unit Spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela. For media enquiries contact 031 311 4820/18.