The Department of Economic Development and Tourism,(DEDT) in partnership with the Takealot Group, will officially launch the Takealot Township Economy Initiative which aims to strengthen support to smmes especially in township and rural areas.
It is anticipated that the Initiative will transform the economic landscape of township communities by providing a platform for local entrepreneurs. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (moa) with the Takealot Group, in this regard.
The launch event will be led by the MEC for Makhosazane Masilela and she said
“I am very excited about the initiative which we will launch in partnership with the Takealot Group on the 25th of this Month. Through this ground-breaking initiative, we are implementing the SMME Development Strategy which instructs government, working with the private sector and all relevant shareholders, to provide comprehensive business development support to smmes through the implementation of rural development initiatives; supporting the productive use of land; increasing access to markets by township entrepreneurs and building cooperative finance for the rural and township entrepreneurs”,
Masilela added that the moa is based on five pillars, with a potential to create businesses and job opportunities for smmes in the Province. Over the agreement period, smmes will benefit from the Takealot Township Franchise Initiative Programme, whereby franchisees will receive infrastructure and working capital support. Smmes will also benefit from discounted stock rates, marketing and branding support, amongst others.
“The partnership with Takealot is more than just an economic collaboration, but a commitment which will create jobs through a series of programmes that will be launched across the Province. We will focus on empowering local entrepreneurs by providing them with the resources they need to succeed in the digital marketplace”, concluded the MEC.
