Mahikeng- OVER 800 unemployed youth and role players in the small business sector met at Mmabatho Convention Centre for the Youth entrepreneurship workshop to come up with an approach to gain a foothold in their respective industries.

The two days workshop which was on Tuesday, was hosted by Department of Economy and Enterprise Development on account of giving industry experts time to share their experiences with and to create a platform for participants with special emphasis on the three pillars of economy Agriculture, Culture and Tourism (ACT).

Highlighting the purpose of the workshop Acting Head of the Department Ndlela Kunene referred to it as an information sharing platform, where department interacts with registered and emerging youth businesses to exchange ideas and share best practices that will take Bokone Bophirima forward.

The intent is for the Department to engage with vibrant, committed and responsible youth entrepreneurs that will be able to contribute significantly towards stimulation of the local economy.

The workshop was attended by unemployed youth and SMME’s from four district of the province.

Addressing representatives from various economic sectors and SMMEs, MEC Wendy Joy Nelson stressed the need for collaboration to unlock opportunities for SMMEs and dealing with the socio-economic challenges facing the province.

“It is crucial that we acknowledge that our province is faced with a challenge of poor youth economic participation. This is brought about by a large percentage of our youth registering businesses with similar services throughout the entire country impacting negatively to their potential business growth.  

“This creates a challenge for government to fund and invest on businesses that are not sustainable”, said MEC Wendy Nelson.

She further indicated that it is imperative that youth realise that their businesses do not operate in isolation from the country’s economic growth plans. Therefore it is key that any business ideas that youth come up with should be aligned with the hope of propelling the country’s economy in the right direction.

MEC challenged entrepreneurs particularly youth, to think outside the box and come up with unique, doable and sustainable business ideas.

She further highlighted that government of Bokone Bophirima has resources available to fund a variety of business ideas that will contribute to the growth of the economy of this province.

Government will give priority for funding to programmes that are focusing on the three pillars of economy ACT, that will be aligned to youth service programmes geared towards structured learning opportunities and work exposure, Youth entrepreneurial collateral funding and Youth Entrepreneurial competition awards.

Nelson said also, the province, through the department is looking into mainstream interventions which directly integrates socio economic empowerment of women, youth and people living with disabilities which include Business Incubation and Business Infrastructure Support, where for example the Province of Bokone Bophirima is looking into forming cooperatives with the Expanded Public Works Programme participants that have gained various built environment hard skills.
-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_