City-backed programme helps local businesses build supplier readiness

MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ALDERMAN JAMES VOS

Last week, the City of Cape Town’s Economic Growth Directorate hosted the graduation ceremony of the High Impact Supplier Development Programme at the Business Hub, recognising entrepreneurs who completed the programme that focuses on business growth, supplier readiness and market competitiveness.

Supporting small businesses remains an important part of Cape Town’s economic growth approach, particularly because SMMEs contribute meaningfully to employment creation and economic activity across the city. Through targeted support programmes such as this, entrepreneurs are provided with practical business development mechanisms, mentorship, networking opportunities and guidance aimed at improving operational capacity and access to markets.

The City continues to invest in enterprise development initiatives through the Business Hub, which assisted more than 5 800 SMMEs during the previous financial year. These interventions are aimed at helping businesses become more sustainable, improve their competitiveness and better position themselves to participate in supply chains and procurement opportunities.

The High Impact Supplier Development Programme forms part of this broader effort by helping entrepreneurs strengthen the foundations of their businesses while preparing them for future growth opportunities.

Over the years, I have seen how businesses participating in programmes like these have evolved from small enterprises into more established suppliers of goods and services within various sectors of the economy. That kind of progression is important because it strengthens local supply chains, expands economic participation and creates further business and employment opportunities within Cape Town’s economy.

Thank you to the facilitators, partners and stakeholders involved in supporting the programme, and congratulations to all the entrepreneurs who graduated. I look forward to following the continued progress of these businesses in the years ahead.

For more information on this and other programmes from the Business Hub, contact bu**************@**********ov.za or 021 417 4043.