DTI says it's all systems go for Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference
The annual event is expected to draw over a thousand delegates to the Sandton Convention Centre on Wednesday.
- Broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE)
- Black industrialists
- Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel. Picture: DTIC
JOHANNESBURG - The Trade and Industry Department said it's all systems go for the annual Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference this week.
The annual event is expected to draw over 1,000 delegates to the Sandton Convention Centre on Wednesday.
It will bring black-owned businesses under the same roof to talk shop on a range of issues, including economic opportunities and challenges.
The day-long conference is in its second year.
It’s expected to take stock of the contribution by black industrialists to the economy, as well as drive reforms to address what government describes as a skewed racialised economy.
The Black Industrialists’ policy was established in 2015 to boost the growth and global competitiveness of black-owned companies.
“And we wanted to develop, with the broad-based black economic empowerment framework, a particular programme that would highlight, support and celebrate black-owned companies – companies where the majority of the equity is held by black South Africans," said Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel.
Despite some gains, Patel said a number of challenges continued to make it hard for back industrialists to break into the mainstream economy.
This includes a lack of funding and a lack of access to market opportunities.