Ngwathe Smme Expo Focuses On Tackling Unemployment, Empowering Youth

Youth empowerment, job creation and eradicating unemployment are pivotal factors for the organisers of the Ngwathe Small, Medium and Micro enterprises Expo. Through the Expo, the Edgar Legoale foundation says they want to assist young people to unlock opportunities and to develop communities. The expo, which is happening in Parys in the Free State, is part of the week long Ngwathe Easter experience. The foundations manager, Nthabiseng Molejane says it is time for big institutions to share information with SMMEs. We are at the Ngwathe SMME Expo, as you can see, different SMMEs from the Ngwathe municipality are here. We want to bring government on board as well as different stakeholders, such as ABSA bank to bridge the gap and allow local SMMEs to thrive in their businesses. They need to know what resources the government and the private sector have to offer. Meanwhile, Free State Economic Development MEC, Ketso Makume says China is a good example of how supporting small businesses can boost the economy. Makume says this is why the department is intensifying efforts to support small businesses as a strategy to increase job creation. We as the department are supporting this initiative because they are helping us reach some goals such as reducing unemployment. We also want to fight inequality and a major part of bringing this change is uplifting small businesses.