JOHANNESBURG - Minister of Small Business
Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu, challenged her Chinese counterparts and Chinese businesses to help open their markets to South Africa’s small and medium businesses.
Zulu is leading a South
African small business delegation at this year’s China
International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF) which takes
place in Guanzhou, China, from October 10 to October
13.
“Many SMMEs and Cooperatives
have pointed out to us that their growth and sustainability is hampered by lack
of access to markets. CISMEF must be a platform that opens the doors for many
SMMEs to enter global markets”, said Zulu.
The department has made a
commitment to facilitate market access to small businesses. “The
over thirty businesses that we have brought here and many others back
home are looking for an opportunity to grow their businesses. Our
participation at this year’s CISMEF is our practical effort to promote market access”,
said Zulu.
Zulu said that her
department is using CISMEF as a catalyst to unlock markets for small businesses and
cooperatives. “We are here to show you a taste of what South Africa
can offer”.
Minister Zulu urged small businesses to
seek markets beyond the borders of South Africa.
“The truth is that the walls separating
nations are falling and the globe is getting smaller. However, the queues of
the unemployed remain unacceptably long, especially in the developing world. CISMEF highlights
the importance of global entrepreneurship that cuts across borders”.
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Zulu said that her
department decided to be the co-hosts with China for this year’s CISMEF because
government is committed to the goal of promoting and sustaining
entrepreneurship.
“We believe that investing
in small business will help us respond to the many socio-economic
challenges that still stubbornly stare us in the face. Small businesses are
the heartbeat of our economy and engine for economic growth and job creation,” Zulu.
Minister Zulu is
accompanied by Ms Wendy Nelson, MEC for Finance, Economic and Enterprise
Development in the North West province and Dr
Ben Malakoane, MEC for Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism
and Economic Affairs in the Free State.