Developing SA entrepreneurs
19 June 2008
Young entrepreneurs will get an opportunity to debate and hone their skills when the Umsobomvu Youth Fund's annual Entrepreneurship Development Conference kicks off at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 1 July.
The aim of the four-day conference is to create a platform for the entrepreneurship development sector to share and debate ideas, practices and models.
The conference will also contribute to the increase of Total Entrepreneurship Activity (TEA) in South Africa, especially among young people.
Entrepreneurial activity
In 2005 the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor survey revealed that South Africa had one of the lowest levels of entrepreneurial activity.
The TEA in South Africa was 5.29 percent in 2006, and there has been a reported increase in 2007 with the 25-to-35 age group reported to have had the highest TEA rate of all the age groups.
The conference is one of the initiatives used to share knowledge among local and international practitioners on how to improve South Africa's TEA.
"The conference looks at innovative ways to promote a culture of entrepreneurship among young South Africans," Umsobomvu Chief Executive Officer Malose Kekana said.
Conference theme
The theme of the conference is "Youth Entrepreneurship for 2010 and Beyond: Unlocking, Unleashing and Empowering".
It will focus on creating tools, systems and processes for entrepreneurship development that can be used by practitioners to increase entrepreneurship activities among young people leading up to the 2010 Fifa World Cup and beyond.
Confirmed speakers for the conference include member of the National Small Business Advisory Council Professor Bob M Mahabir; Chris van Zyl of Zylplex Training, Renai Moothilal from the Department of Trade and Industry; Phindile Tshabangu from the Small Enterprise Development Agency, Essential Oils Business Incubator; and Vuyo Jack of Empowerdex.
Exhibition
In addition to the main conference there will be a concurrent Business Development Exhibition, which is targeted at linking youth businesses with procurement opportunities and providing information to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Registration for the conference must be before 20 June. It can be done by using the Umsobomvu Youth Fund Portal or by telephoning 08600 YOUTH (96884).
"Delegates who have attended this event previously will confirm that this insightful conference is a must for both enterprise development practitioners and young entrepreneurs planning to showcase their businesses," concluded Kekana.
Source: BuaNews
