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21 August 2007

In what is deemed by many as a major networking session for business, media and the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, the MEC Collins Chabane, has thrown the gates wide open for the business community and media to meet in an organised sessions for sharing information on the growth of the province and to highlight specific operational efficiencies, successes and challenges faced by the province. Entitled 'Breakfast with Collins', the sessions, timed to coincide with the end of each quarter, will be used as an invaluable platform for networking with business community and media on the wide array of opportunities that have arisen in the annual business plan of the department coupled with market analysis of trends and opportunities identified and the means to access these for wealth and jobs creation.

The purpose of the sessions is to ensure that the plans for 2007/08 as outlined in the budget speech are shared with all stakeholders in terms of the pronouncements made at the beginning of the year, to look at progress made in respect of these plans to date, consider challenges and the interventions planned to deal with them. The session will also seek to provide the business community with an insight into the opportunities arising in the province, and to conduct open dialogue with these vital stakeholders. Among the many successes made in the quarter by the department is the assistance of SMMEs with finance to the value of over R30 million and creation of several job opportunities.

Responding to the question of why the sessions are at the end of the quarter, the MEC responded that "the end of the quarter enables us to take a full look at the business plan of the department and to benchmark ourselves against the plan, our expenditure and forecasts, and to look at the rate of success we have as per our plans". He also added that it is sometimes difficult in one month to plot the growth patterns in the economy as these normally emerge after a while, even though the realisation may have dawned earlier of such opportunities but we will as and when necessary, convene such meetings to look into specific issues of interest.

For further information contact:
Lehlogonolo Masoga
Cell: 082 463 9755

Issued by: Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Limpopo Provincial Government
21 August 2007