Ndabeni calls for renewal of King Sabata Dalindyebo area economy

The Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni has encouraged businesses and professionals in the King Sabata Dalindyebo area to work together in renewing the local economy and to boost investor confidence.

She was speaking at the professionals and business sector symposium hosted by her department in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape last night.

The symposium brought together two key drivers of the local economy – the professional class and the business sector.

It was held under the theme: “Rebuilding KSD: Professionals and Business at the centre of Economic Renewal”.

Ndabeni says the aim is to mobilize the two key drivers to fix infrastructure healthcare and investment.

“Well, tonight (Friday night) as the Department of Small Business Development working with the department of health in the province, we have gathered and brought professionals of king Sabatha Dalindyebo, professionals and the business sector, in order to have discussions on what kind of King Sabata Dalindyebo do we need and therefore what becomes the role of the professionals and the business sector in shaping the economy and the investment of their area,” explains Ndabeni.

Meanwhile, businesses believe entrepreneurship can help address many challenges that include unemployment and poverty.

The chairperson of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation, Vuyani Jarana says government must bring in programs that address joblessness.

“What’s important today is when business people and community come together and say what should we be doing together to bring vibrancy.

A lot of what is being consumed in this part of the province doesn’t come from here.

Government, though its social programs, is pumping a lot of revenue and money into this area.” “But it’s not translating to jobs.

So, they need to heighten entrepreneurship spirit, make sure that people can sell something, produce something and sell it to somebody within a good legislative framework.

That’s what we want,” adds Jarana.

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