Online trading platform to assist SMMEs

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

On the 28th of March 2019 President Cyril Ramaphosa will be launching an online trading platform which will link registered small, medium and micro enterprises’ (SMMEs) access to supply chain opportunities of large South African corporations that have an integrated global footprint.

The platform – called the Business Leadership South Africa Connect – will be launched in conjunction with the SA SME CEO Fund Circle. 

In a statement, the Presidency on Wednesday said the online portal will promote supplier diversity and the inclusion of black suppliers in the value chain.

“This initiative will create market opportunities for black-owned SMMEs through linkages and networking between large firms and SMMEs. It will also support emerging enterprises with access to enterprise and supplier development,” the Presidency said. 

This programme of broadening economic participation forms part of BLSA’s #BusinessBelieveInSouthAfrica campaign. One of the commitments under this campaign is support for small businesses.

The Presidency added that BLSA campaign supports government efforts to broaden economic participation and dilute the concentration of the South African economy in which a relatively small number of enterprises dominate all levels of supply chains and limit choices for consumers.

In February 2019, President Ramaphosa signed into law the Competition Amendment Bill which constitutes a boost for SMEs, economic inclusion and is intended to open the economy to fresh investment and innovation.

At this week’s event, President Ramaphosa will concurrently launch the SA SME Fund CEO Circle which aims to finance and scale up black SMMEs

“The fund was set up under the auspices of the CEO Initiative in 2016 to stimulate growth and investment drawn from the expertise of South Africa’s top business leaders. 

“Fifty of South Africa’s largest companies have collectively invested R1.4 billion in capital in the SA SME Fund which is mandated to invest the bulk of its funding into black emerging businesses,” the Presidency said.

President Ramaphosa has urged all social partners across the public and private spheres to collaborate on finding long term sustainable solutions to combat and reduce inequality, poverty and unemployment, and to secure and create inclusive growth to build a prosperous South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za

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The Northern Business Review is a business community newspaper that provides a platform for businesses to market their products and services, as well as build their brand, but equally important the publication provides information, advice and topics of interest, including business, entrepreneurial, economic reviews and simple ideas to grow your business. The publication has a primary objective to “uniquely” represent businesses to a wide audience across the community as well as provide a media platform of business articles and information that affect, influence and uplift the business environment within our defined geographical and cultural community.

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SA to develop Africa’s largest tech hub

Friday, February 22, 2019

Government is looking at developing the biggest tech hub in Africa, a
coding and programming academy as well as co-working and co-creation spaces for
the youth and start-ups in particular.

“Through the Small Enterprise Development Agency (seda), my department,
in partnership with the Department of Telecommunication and Postal Services,
has started a conversation to develop the biggest Tech Hub in Africa…” Minister
of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu said on Friday.

She was addressing an engagement session with the creative industry in
Johannesburg under theme ‘Leveraging on digital platforms for 4IR creatives’.

The session was led by Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams
and Deputy Minister Pinky Kekana.

The one-day engagement focused on broadcasting, audio-visual and new
platforms, as well as the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR).

Zulu said the technological revolution must improve and advance the
lives of South Africans.

“It also becomes important that Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises
(SMMEs) and Cooperatives embrace this radical reshaping of the relationship
between technology capabilities and business opportunities.

“Incubators must focus on creating a new generation of South African
Start-ups that will drive the creation of disruptive technologies in the
creatives industry,” she said.

The Minister said South Africa is well placed to benefit from the
potential of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector in the
future.

The Minister said the size of South Africa’s gross domestic product
(GDP), its levels of per capita income and productivity gave it an advantage to
lead in the ICT sector on the continent.

In addition, the increasing contributions from South African firms to
producing for the continent and world value chain of manufactured goods, as
well as the above-average level of innovation infrastructure in which business,
government and research interact, are putting South Africa in a favourable
position to lead this space in Africa.

“If South Africa wants to build on its existing strengths, it must not
wait longer with making meaningful, and sometime bold, changes. It must
overcome its current complacency, political complexity, and inertia to act.

“South African initiatives are likely to be successful only if they
happen in an integrated manner and, importantly, create more scale and scope
for growth across Africa and create the conditions that allow a greater role
for consumers and businesses to drive the impact of new technologies through
their effective use,” the Minister said.

Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution

 In his State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa
announced the appointment of a Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial
Revolution.

The commission will serve as a national overarching advisory mechanism
on digital transformation.

It will identify and recommend policies, strategies and plans that will
position South Africa as a global competitive player within the digital
revolution space.

Ndabeni-Abrahams has urged the creative sector to work with government
in developing policies for 4IR.

“Please walk this path with us as we develop policies for 4IR so that we
are able to move from an informed point of view. Through the Fourth Industrial
Revolution Commission, we are establishing work streams.

“Once the induction has been done by the President, we will be able to
invite more participants to look at the matter holistically,” the Minister
said.

Future of work

Dr Brian Armstrong, a pre-eminent thought leader on digitalisation and
business strategy and Professor of Digital Business at the Wits Business
School, emphasised the importance for South Africa remaining competitive in the
global economy as it moves to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“We need to understand the impact on the future of work and what it
means for employment, new modes of employment and new ways of engaging between
employers and employees.

“It is critical that we focus on the opportunities… and understand the
critical success factors,” Armstrong said.

He said the future work for creative roles are less vulnerable to
technological disruptions and automation.

“Computers struggle to do three things at the moment and will continue
to do that. These include roles that are iron created intensity, creative
intelligence, roles that are high relations intelligence and roles that are
high in construction dexterity.

“The more technological the world becomes, the more important it is to
focus on our humanity to differentiate ourselves from the machines and retain
value,” Armstrong said. – SAnews.gov.za

About Us

The Northern Business Review is a business community newspaper that provides a platform for businesses to market their products and services, as well as build their brand, but equally important the publication provides information, advice and topics of interest, including business, entrepreneurial, economic reviews and simple ideas to grow your business. The publication has a primary objective to “uniquely” represent businesses to a wide audience across the community as well as provide a media platform of business articles and information that affect, influence and uplift the business environment within our defined geographical and cultural community.

@NsabasiNBR

Designed by Nsabasi Publishing©2020

Home technology you just have to experience

On a daily basis we are surrounded by evidence of clever technology that makes our lives easier, more efficient, faster…. It’s all in a days work. When we go home to our families, to our comforts and space where we can be ourselves, where’s the technology then? Well, it’s in all of the appliances we use and what we power them with, but it’s no longer just basic functionality. Innovation is the key word when we look at the latest technology in TVs, it’s like being at the event now. Sound reproduction has reached the clarity of absolute perfection, cameras are capturing the world around us in 360 degrees…it’s the world in our hands and it’s an experience that shouldn’t be missed. An entrepreneur who understands and embraces the thrill of new technologies is Andre du Toit, owner of The Digital Experience at Fourways Crossing on William Nicol Drive. If there is an innovative advance in any area of technology that influences your home comfort, he is the first to bring that experience to his customers. The Digital Experience recently enlarged the store by a third in order to accommodate the exciting and innovative technologies that are now focused on the kitchen. The new ‘foodie’ generation is looking for the alternative techniques and error free appliances to practice the art of bringing food to the table in the most nutritious and taste filled manner. Old fashioned kitchens don’t facilitate any of that efficiently. A company that has mastered the ultimate kitchen technologies is MIELE. An exciting new addition to The Digital Experience, the beautiful Miele kitchen set-up gives you a taste of the extensive Miele range and capabilities. The result of four generations of engineering excellence, this German brand is designed and crafted for sustainability (for which principles they have won awards in Germany). Not for them the limited lifespan that is behind the economy appliances philosophy of repeat sales. Each item, be it an oven, a stove, a refrigerator or a washing machine, the sustainability- the vision of people building entire Miele environments is the ultimate quality assurance that this proud brand brings to market. Miele is committed to moving with the times while remaining true to themselves. The latest appliances work by swiping, scrolling and touch operation in the same way as a modern Smartphone. The underlying technology that facilitates automation and networking is already geared towards the meaning of ‘Quality’ in the future. With all of the advances being predicted around the ‘intelligent home’, where the health, quality of life and security of families will be designed into the home solution, Miele is participant in the projects with an aim to continue to make products that improve our quality of life and create the least impact on the environment. Foodie heaven is in the design details in the Miele kitchen appliance design. Pyrolyctic programmes reduce the effort of cleaning to a minimum. A warming drawer that can double as a sous-vide slow cooker makes perfect sense. A cooker hood that communicates with the hob and automatically switches off intuitively post cooking when no longer needed. Sensors that monitor heat and moisture to give you the optimum cooking environment. Steam ovens with multiple inlets to shorten your cooking duration but guarantees an even heat environment. ( These non-pressured steam ovens are a gentle method of cooking food while retaining nutrition, a Miele innovation brought about by studying ancient Asian cooking practices) The list goes on….and on. A feast of features that once experienced become a ‘must have’ ambition in any modern kitchen. Miele creates appliances, from coffee machines to vacuum cleaners to the ultimate kitchen and laundry appliances that are perfection every way, that appeal to the senses and meet the evolving needs of each generation, aesthetically, visually and functionally. The Digital Experience invites you to come and experience the most exciting, most innovative technology available in quality brands. Spend a while with us and you will see your home in a whole new way.

About Us

The Northern Business Review is a business community newspaper that provides a platform for businesses to market their products and services, as well as build their brand, but equally important the publication provides information, advice and topics of interest, including business, entrepreneurial, economic reviews and simple ideas to grow your business. The publication has a primary objective to “uniquely” represent businesses to a wide audience across the community as well as provide a media platform of business articles and information that affect, influence and uplift the business environment within our defined geographical and cultural community.

@NsabasiNBR

Designed by Nsabasi Publishing©2020