The International Labour Organisation (ILO), in partnership with Flanders International Cooperation Agency (FICA), the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DETEA) and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), have launched the 2013 enterPRIZE Job Creation Challenge, a business plan competition with an objective of job creation through SME development in the Free State.
Although this is the first time the competition is being held, the intention is for it to run annually.
The competition forms part of a three-year technical cooperation programme between the DETEA and ILO. The SME initiative supports the government of South Africa and the provincial government of the Free State in meeting its priorities towards broad-based wealth creation and job creation through small and medium enterprise development. The development initiative is funded by FICA and is implemented with the DETEA.
The voice of SMEs in the Free State is represented by organisations such as the Black Management Forum, Mangaung/Bloemfontein Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut and the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Partnerships are also being formed with educational institutions and with financial and non-financial Business Development Service (BDS) providers. The University of the Free State is a research partner.
The 2013 enterPRIZE Job Creation Challenge will create opportunities for emerging, new and established entrepreneurs that are in the process of setting up a business or have a business they want to expand in order to seize unexplored market opportunities.
Entrepreneurs who want to enter the competition should register on www.jobcreationchallenge.co.za.
The deadline for entries is 26 of April 2013, and the winners will be announced on 29 May 2013.