Cape Town: Entrepreneurs have gathered in Khayelitsha for the inaugural of Local Economy Symposium in the city. It will connect with the business support facilities, while learning about the initiatives to elevate their services.
City Cape Town is committed to support small businesses through training, guidance and networking opportunities that it offers.
Reportedly, the inaugural Khayelitsha Local Economy Symposium was held at the OR Tambo Indoor Centre by the Economic Growth Directorate of the city who gathered the community entrepreneurs.
It was organised with an aim of the symposium to provide a platform for local enterprises to network and learn about various mechanisms that includes City initiatives which would elevate their services and products.
As per the sources, the symposium has brought together a number of business support facilities such as the Site C Business Forum, to assist entrepreneurs with information about doing business with the city, training, queries related to informal trading and access of finance.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Growth – Alderman James Vos said that Khayelitsha is one of Cape Town’s biggest social and economic hubs. More than 1,500 SMMEs operate in the area, not only providing valuable services and goods to community members but also giving thousands of people much-needed jobs.
Alderman Vos has highlighted the wide array of support programmes for the small and growing businesses that are funded by the City. The Business Hub has trained thousands of Capetonian enterprise owners in its various courses that includes the High Impact Programme, the Productivity Efficiency Programme and the Smart Supplier Programme.
Furthermore, Alderman Vos explained that from providing training courses to offering guidance on logistical and legislative concerns and bringing people together for networking opportunities like this, they are giving entrepreneurs the tools that they need to succeed.
For example, the Youth in Business programme has administered at the Bandwidth Barn in Khayelitsha by the City’s tech Special Purpose Vehicle, UVU Africa, has helped hundreds of young entrepreneurs to learn the skills needed to survive and thrive.
He highlighted the two businesses who have recently participated in the programme – Eezy Technologies and Mcotshana Holdings – who have grown their staff numbers.
The programme underlines the importance of supporting entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and knowledge resources as their success means growth and that they are able to employ others. This is how we are realising economic growth and opportunity for Cape Town, said Alderman James Vos.