It is hoped the development will increase domestic and foreign investment into the region, drive economic growth and address the area’s 28.8 per cent unemployment rate by creating sustainable job opportunities.
According to the metro’s head of Economic Development, Caiphus Chauke, Ekurhuleni will pull out all stops to create a favourable business environment to attract exports, too.
“We seek to develop and promote exports and the provision of aftercare services for business and investment retention and expansion,” he said.
Chauke explained that the business network boasts an investment and development application window, which caters for all major and strategic investment and development applications to be processed through an electronic document management system.
This will provide an improved turnaround time for decision-making around investments and development proposals.
He added that the business network is equipped with a sophisticated lobby lounge, established for networking sessions with investors, developers and business at large.
This facility will also host business delegations visiting Ekurhuleni for potential investment and business opportunities.
Key for the Ekurhuleni residents, the business network houses a business centre to stimulate the metro’s enterprise development goals.
The centre hosts an array of enterprise development initiatives, focusing on entrepreneurship, incubation projects, innovation business support services and funding.
Chauke believes the centre will champion poverty alleviation efforts, economic empowerment and township economic development, through provision of economic infrastructure and market access opportunities.
“The business centre will also give focus to an individual who will walk in to get business advice and coaching,” he said.
“It will also offer tender advice to businesses on how to access business opportunities and how to fill the Ekurhuleni tender documents.
“We will also assist businesses to access opportunities from State Owned Enterprises and progressive blue-chip companies.”
Emerging businesses will be pleased to know that the Seda Enterprise Development Programme is home to the business network.
Seda brings a comprehensive small business development programme, comprising Business Planning Support Services, Quality Assurance Services, Export Awareness Programmes, Office Co-location and Business Advisory Services, amongst others.
Ekurhuleni’s business network would not be complete without Bizspark Incubation Centre that came as a result of the partnership with New Generation Mindset and Microsoft Bizspark Network.
The incubation will recruit 60 individuals and SMMEs for a period of 12 months for individuals, and three years for selected SMME’s to receive training on technology, software and programming mentoring, business development support, software and business development training and skills development of unemployed graduates.
The participants will receive Microsoft internationally accredited certificates for successfully completed training.
