Limpopo Business 2016-17 edition
The 2016/17 edition of Limpopo Business is the eighth issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2007, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide to the Limpopo province. Limpopo is unique in terms of its abundant natural and human resources, and is also one of the key drivers behind the South African economy. This edition of Limpopo Business is officially endorsed by the Office of the Premier of Limpopo.
The 2016/17 edition of Limpopo Business is the eighth issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2007, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide to the Limpopo province.
Limpopo is unique in terms of its abundant natural and human resources, and is also one of the key drivers behind the South African economy.
This edition of Limpopo Business is officially endorsed by the Office of the Premier of Limpopo.
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INTERVIEW<br />
The Co-operatives and Community Public Private<br />
Partnerships (Co-ops and CPPP) Programme promotes<br />
the establishment and growth of viable,<br />
sustainable co-operatives and collectively owned<br />
enterprises, while the Women Owned Enterprise<br />
Development Programme plays a role in developing<br />
women-owned enterprises through a number<br />
of capacity-building programmes.<br />
The EMPRETEC Programme promotes the use<br />
of entrepreneurial competences, while the BESD<br />
Programme’s approach utilises one-on-one coaching<br />
as an innovative methodology to facilitate<br />
and reinforce business skills transfer and developmental<br />
support to emerging entrepreneurs. The<br />
latter programme is conducted by formerly unemployed<br />
individuals and especially trained so-called<br />
Entrepreneurial Development Practitioners (EDPs).<br />
What individuals or organisations should<br />
contact Seda <strong>Limpopo</strong> for assistance?<br />
Seda is able to assist anyone with innovative ideas<br />
who wants to start a business in any sector. In particular<br />
we give preference to value-adding ventures<br />
(manufacturing and processing), as well as wholesalers<br />
and retailers who have the necessary market<br />
access that can enable them to take locally produced<br />
content nationally and/or internationally. Agriculture<br />
and agro-processing are two other sectors on which<br />
we place a high priority.<br />
What challenges do businesses in the<br />
province of <strong>Limpopo</strong> face?<br />
The main challenge we have noticed is in terms of<br />
access to markets, as this is made more difficult as<br />
a result of competitveness that arises due to the<br />
distance we are located away from major markets<br />
as well as suppliers. Raw material (input) and distribution<br />
costs greatly increase in comparison with<br />
businesses in the metros (closer to sources/markets).<br />
Skills/knowledge management, especially in the<br />
agricultural sector: an example of this is land reform<br />
initiatives that have not gone to plan as well as skills<br />
transfers that just did not happen at the scale and/<br />
or pace originally envisaged.<br />
Access to funding is a challenge as the requirements<br />
to qualify for funding are very tight, whether<br />
this be from DFIs or private banking.<br />
What are the major opportunities in the<br />
province for SMMEs?<br />
• Exporting of primary produce<br />
• Value-adding through agro-processing initiatives<br />
85 LIMPOPO BUSINESS <strong>2016</strong>/<strong>17</strong>
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