ENTERPRISES
AND ENTREPRENEURS HONORED
By
BRIAN KAJENGO
South Africa has awarded successful enterprises and entrepreneurs.
These
awards recognise and honour South African enterprises and entrepreneurs who
promote the spirit of success, innovation and good business ethics in our
economy.
The
success of the recipients of these awards demonstrates that country promotes
innovation and success, and that opportunities are being utilised to grow
businesses and prosper.
“We
have released the Presidency 20 Year
Review document, reflecting on 20 years of democracy and freedom. The report
accurately and honestly covers the progress made and the areas where we need to
do better.
“Where
we have made mistakes in the past 20 years, we say so. Where we have done well
but should still do better, we also say so.
“I
would like you to go through the report and use it as yardstick of the road
covered and the road we must still travel together, to build a prosperous South Africa.” Minister
Davies said.
Minister
Robs Davies say the report demonstrates as well that working together as
government, business and labour, and all contributed to the economic success of
our country over the past 20 years, despite the challenges of unemployment that
remain.
“But more work be done to improve investment
prospects and to encourage youth employment in particular, while not neglecting
older workers.
More work still to done to increase the number of
small and medium enterprises.” He said.
The National Development Plan, supported by the New
Growth Path and Industrial Policy Action Plan, identifies what needs to done to
achieve some of these outstanding tasks and imperatives.
.
Minister says invest in the maintenance of the
infrastructure especially water, electricity and related infrastructure.
“We are also exploring new opportunities such as
through the development of shale gas and nuclear energy. Another key investment
into the future that we are prioritising, is the need to further improve the
quality of basic education and to substantially expand higher and further
education and training. We have to strengthen links in particular between
companies and Further Education and Training sector, to enhance the provision
of the skills required by a growing economy.” He said.
Minister Davies emphasise the need for labour and
business to promote workplace stability within the country’s progressive labour
relations framework.
Minister Davies promised that in the new term of
government there will be an enhanced focus on small businesses as these are the
engines of job creation. Informal traders and entrepreneurs must be able to
develop their small businesses into larger businesses through support
mechanisms and enabling environment.
The Davis Tax Committee interim report on how the tax
system affects small and medium-sized enterprises published soon for public
comment.
This exercise will surely enhance government’s
efforts to reduce the compliance costs and the regulatory burden experienced by
this very important sector.
He say
South African business has gone into their continent in big numbers and we
encourage more investments inside Africa to
promote intra-Africa trade and investment. Another major development was our membership of the BRICS grouping.
In
the longer term, South
Africa's participation in BRICS presents
important opportunities to build our domestic manufacturing base and to expand
trade and investment opportunities.
The
potential demonstrated by South Africa’s
bilateral trade with China
which has grown by 32% in the last two years.
The
proposed establishment of a BRICS-led Development Bank will contribute to
enhanced financial support for infrastructure in the continent.
Minister Davies thanked the Gordon’s School of Business Science
and ABSA Bank for supporting the awards.
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