Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies is inviting applications for finance from black industrialists who are personally involved in manufacturing ventures.
“I know that there are capable black industrialists‚ who are capable of running industrial companies in chemical industries‚ for example. But we’re not at the scale that’s required either in terms of the numbers in enterprises… The (Black Industrialists Programme) is intended to provide support for that‚” the government communication service quoted him as saying.
The Minister’s deputy Mzwandile Masina said the programme is intended to get the participation of black people into the productive side of the economy.
“We are trying to ensure that we can ramp up a number of activities in the manufacturing sector and support those who are doing work in the sector. There are also those who are new entrants‚ who are graduating from being SMMEs... Those are the main things we are looking at‚” said the Deputy Minister.
Davies said a forum will be established and is due to hold its first meeting in March. Applications are open.
He said pledges of support have been received from several agencies‚ including the National Empowerment Fund (NEF).
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