Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, Mr Cassel Mathale will lead a business delegation of SMME’S to the city of Reggio Emilia in Italy to celebrate the 25th anniversary of SA’s freedom from the 4th to 7th of April 2019. The choice of the City of Reggio Emilia to celebrate the 25th anniversary of South Africa’s Democracy is determined by the historical relationship that existed between the two countries since June 26, 1977, the day on which a "Solidarity Pact" was signed with the African National Congress.
Since then, the relationship with South Africa has grown deeper over the years. In 2004, a twinning agreement was signed between Reggio Emilia and the City of Polokwane. In October 2016, a five-year Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Region of Emilia-Romagna and Ekurhuleni Municipality in Gauteng Province.
The Agreement focused on 12 areas of cooperation: economic development and trade; investments; sport and cultural exchange; tourism; innovation; climate change; energy; agribusiness; advanced manufacturing; education and early childhood development; cooperatives; and the mobilisation of funding and social capital to promote development and competitiveness.
This visit to the city of Reggio Emelia will among other things deepen the solidarity and collaboration, as well as to advance and entrench long-lasting economic relations between South Africa and Italy.
The business delegation consists of the SMME' representatives of small businesses in various sectors of the economy in line with the two countries’ bilateral collaboration, which amongst others, include Agriculture and Agro-processing, automotives, mechatronics and renewable energy.
SMME’s who benefited from the Department’s offerings have been given the opportunity to exhibit varied products and market their services to the international market. Italy remains one of the biggest trading partner and a preferred market for proudly made in SA products.
“Through this programme we seek to contribute towards South Africa’s goal of inclusive economic growth and employment creation through SMME development” so said Cassel Mathale, the Deputy Minister of Small Business Development”
Both the Department of Small Business Development and city of Reggio Emilia in Italy are confident that SMMEs will benefit from this big and beautiful event through capacity building and enhanced access to markets, appropriate financing and an improved administrative and regulatory environment.
SHARE WITH FRIENDS: