MTN Business has reaffirmed its commitment to develop small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within Nelspruit by extending its supplier development programme (SDP) and accelerator programme (AP), the company’s enterprise development initiatives, to the Mpumalanga Province.
MTN Business expects to develop over 35 small ICT businesses through the SDP and AP initiatives which will take the targeted businesses from the start-up phase to fully self-sufficient status.
MTN Business also hosted an event in collaboration with the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 21 August 2015 in Nelspruit to showcase its commitment to developing SMEs. The event is themed: ‘Economic Growth through SMME Development’.
Key note speakers at the event included Mabuza from Mbombela municipality, Zaid Mohidin from New Generation Mindset (NGM), Paulo Fereira from Samsung, Margaret Mahlaba from Nedbank and Sabelo Mamba from Small Enterprise Funding Agency, Lillian Mkhonza from Makhosikati Holding and Claude Chetty from MTN Business.
“Events such as this one are relevant in highlighting the challenge of unemployment in the country, and the importance of SMME’s in job creation. A strong partnership between government and corporates are essential if we are to deliver on the economic growth mandate through SMEs development,” says David Mphelo, GM: Public Sector MTN Business.
MTN Business has a proactive approach to sustain growth in the ICT sector and country. As part of the SDP and AP initiatives, MTN Business is developing start-up businesses which can become service suppliers to municipalities, Governments and large corporates.
“We have taken the strategic approach of investing in the social development of the country by providing intensive business skills training and developmental support to entrepreneurs through the SDP and AP initiatives, addressing one of the biggest challenges South Africa is facing – youth unemployment,” he says.
“These programmes supports our strategic intent of creating sustainable value for our stakeholders as good corporate citizenship is key, as well as driving sustainable growth and developing new opportunities to ensure the delivery of a bold new digital world.”
“Our programmes are aligned with the township economic strategy and National Development Plan’s goals of fostering poverty alleviation and driving real empowerment by creating a new class of young, black entrepreneurs,” Mphelo concludes.
NGM will support MTN Business throughout by nurturing skills, delivering training and mentorship.