Cape Town – Wednesday 13th March 2024
Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Hon. Elias Mubanga says entrepreneurs play a crucial role in driving the economic development narrative of the country.
Speaking when he arrived in South Africa yesterday ahead of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress GEC+ Africa 2024, Hon. Mubanga says the conference provides a platform that showcases the significant progress the country has made in producing some of the most innovative and successful entrepreneurs.
He says the Government has placed a high premium on ensuring a conducive business environment as it is key to the economic growth of the country by helping emerging entrepreneurs to thrive and grow their businesses and contribute to job creation.
He notes that the Congress will give an opportunity for Africa to showcase its talents, skills, and business excellence to the global community.
He notes that it is for this reason that President Hakainde Hichilema emphasizes the need to promote small and medium enterprise, creating job opportunities, and establishing market linkages.
Hon. Mubanga is in Cape Town at the invitation of his South African counterpart, Ms. Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and is among 43 African leaders who are attending Congress. He is expected to give a keynote speech and hold several bilateral meetings with other stakeholders.
GEC+ Africa, an initiative of Global Entrepreneurship Network, connects entrepreneurs and leaders from more than 50 African nations to the best global resources and investor network, to create platforms that will drive collaborative ecosystems and advocate for policies that will empower sustainable growth for SMMEs across Africa.
GEC+ Africa 2024 will include international thought leaders and practitioners who are part of a global movement aimed at making it easier for anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business. Initiated by the Global Entrepreneurship Network in 2017, GEC+ events increase connectivity and collaboration on a local, national and global level.
The aim for GEC+ Africa is to create an enabling environment that supports start-ups and SMMEs on the continent who create jobs while boosting the continental economic growth. GEC+ Africa is determined to develop innovative entrepreneurial ecosystems which can advance growth across a wide range of sectors in a majority of African markets with a focus on sustainability and a desire to contribute to a better Africa.
Attendance at the event includes start-ups; Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), investors, policymakers and organisations that support entrepreneurship development.
This is contained in a statement issued by first Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian high commission in South Africa.
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