Women entrepreneurs are often an under-tapped force that can rekindle economic expansion while driving positive social change. Solar Sister, for instance, an organization started by Ashoka Fellow Katherine Lucey, is empowering women to become an active part of the grassroots clean energy economy, both as sellers and users of affordable and high-quality solutions. By training…
The first 50 applications by aspiring black industrialists had been received and tabled at a new funding forum initiated by the government, Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies said last week. The forum met for the first time on March 17, he noted. “I am hoping we will find some serious black industrialists in…
President Jacob Zuma will lead South African Ministers and a business delegation on an Official State Visit to France from 11 to 12 July 2016. South Africa and France will hold a Business Forum on 11 July 2016. The key objective for State Visit during the visit is to promote South Africa’s exports and attract…
Johannesburg – The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) this week confirmed that it has allocated funds for the continuation of a government programme to enhance South African manufacturers’ competitiveness. Dti Spokesman Sidwell Medupe said however the amount will only be announced once the department’s budget vote has been presented to Parliament. This is scheduled…
Democratic Alliance press statement by Dean Macpherson MP DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry R2.2 billion shortfall and suspension of MCEP will lead to more job losses 29 October 2015 Release: immediate The announcement that the Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme (MCEP) will not be accepting any more applications due to its R2.2 billion shortfall…
The decision to suspend government’s competitiveness enhancement scheme has raised serious questions about the overall management of the initiative. The Department of Trade and Industry announced at the end of October that new applications for the Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme (MCEP) had been suspended “temporarily”. Several questions relating to the management of the programme, including…
Cape Town – Contrary to global trends, South Africa’s small and medium enterprises are showing a decline in employment, turnover and a majority are struggling to survive. According to SBP’s 2015 SME Growth Index, just over one in five firms reported a decline in turnover from the previous year and a further 20% reported no…
Trade and industry has suddenly put the brakes on a manufacturing incentive programme. Carambola Invest dries and exports pineapples in a poor area of the Eastern Cape for local supply and export. The pineapple-growing industry has been under tremendous pressure in recent years as prices fell in light of global oversupply. “There were only just…
2015/10/30 05:05 By Mark Allix Picture: THINKSTOCK The R5bn manufacturing competitiveness enhancement programme, established by the government to cushion local manufacturers from the effects of the global financial crisis, has been exhausted, leaving a lot of companies in distress. The Department of Trade Industry, under which the fund falls, on Wednesday said it had suspended…
Following the MCEP notices sent to clients regarding the rejection of their applications and the attached press release, we have managed to obtain clarification from the DTI that: The notices were only sent to affected clients. Thus implying that if your client did not receive this notice, it is likely that it does not apply…