GOVERNMENT NEEDS PRIVATE SECTOR TO CREATE JOBS
By BRIAN KAJENGO
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms
Elizabeth Thabethe says government will not achieve its employment creation
targets without the contribution of the private sector. Thabethe was speaking
to businesspeople at a training workshop hosted by the Franchise Association of
South Africa (FASA) as part of the Franchise Expo at the Sandton Convention
Centre today.
“Our major role as government is to create conducive
environment that will enable your businesses to operate smoothly and
successfully in order to create the jobs that we are all hoping for. Government
cannot do it alone. We need a partnership with the private sector. Business has
a crucial role to play in growing this country’s economy,” said Thabethe.
She encouraged businesspeople to work closely with the
Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) and access the various
incentives that the department is offering to assist businesspeople grow their
businesses.
“Last year alone we managed to organise international
trade and investment missions to more than twenty countries. Quite a
significant number of businesspeople have benefitted from these trips which aimed
at opening international markets for trade and investment for our people.
International markets will enable us to export our products to other countries.
This will necessitate that companies include their production, thereby creating
more employment to meet the demand from other countries,” added Thabethe.
The Franchise Association’s International Franchise
recent research has confirmed amongst others that the 668 franchise systems
with their over 30 000 franchise outlets in 17 business sectors contributes
almost 10% to the country’s GDP. The industry generated a turnover of R302
billion in 2012, adding 3 700 new franchise businesses to the economy – with
just under one in two (46%) of franchisors having been in business for more
than 12 years and 75% in business for more than 6 years.
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