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Minister of Trade and Industry Alec Erwin yesterday launched an initiative called the Business Zone at the Matsamo Multi-purpose Community Centre (MPCC) in Mpumalanga Province.

The Business Zones are being set up in partnership with MPCCs, to meet a need for economic advice, support and aftercare service in rural areas and townships. Departments such as Social Development, Health, Labour and Home Affairs also provide services at the centres.

Yesterday's launch formed part of the commencement of nationwide activities planned for fifth National Imbizo Focus Week, which ends on Friday, 19 October.

The theme for this year's Imbizo is 'Building a people's contract for growth and development'.

Speaking at the event Minister Erwin said the MPCCs, which are government's response to community needs, ensured that government and the community worked in tandem to address the legacy of apartheid.

The first Business Zone was launched in partnership with the Breede Valley Municipality in the Western Cape in August when the dti's Business Express visited the Unobuntu MPCC in Zwelthemba, Worcester.

The location of Business Zones in or near MPCCs provides points where people can come to assess progress with business registrations; identify possible sources of funding for small businesses; identify training interventions, which may assist their business to grow; and, hunt for export promotion opportunities, amongst others.

According to the Minister, the Business Zone initiative contributes to implementation of a Growth and Development Summit agreement by establishing business support nodes to stimulate economic activities in rural and township areas.

The Minister said the technology to be used at the Business Zones at the community centres would assist aspiring entrepreneurs in regard to how to fill out forms and get help from the dti. ''Not only will you be able to access information on all the dti-related projects, but this is also your way of telling us what you need from us.

''We cannot do everything from Pretoria. We have to work together with the community and the municipality. With this technology people growing flowers will be able to know what the selling price should be in Holland,'' explained Minister Erwin.

Meanwhile, another Business Zone will be launched at Namahadi MPCC in Qwa Qwa on Friday 17 October.

For more information and requests for interviews, contact Gaynor Kast on 083 747 6328.

Issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), 14 October 2003