Access to markets is one of the most difficult hurdles faced by small businesses in the agricultural sector.
But if MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment, Dr Kgosientso Ramokgopa makes true on his promises then the markers will soon open for such businesses.
Ramokgopa on Wednesday promised that there will be a major makeover for The Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP).
Ramokgopa said that GEP is set for a major make over as “we reposition this strategic Provincial Agency as our Development Finance Agency to support SMME development”
He said the heart of their approach will be to focus our interventions on high impact outcomes as opposed to small scale interventions with little or no impact.
“In this regard, today (Wednesday August 14), we held an engagement with the Board of GEP to talk through some of these issues,” said Ramokgopa.
He said that amongst the keys issues were how do they link the companies (SMME’s) they support at GEP to markets; anchored on the government procurement value chain.
They also plan to develop a scientific model to evaluate the business they support; such that their funding is targeted at enterprises with the highest degree of success (and highest propensity for job creation and multiplier impact in the economy).
“We also shared our initial thinking on the proposed Township Economy Bill which we will introduce to the Legislature later this year,” he said.