Conference on economic transformation of townships

An international conference on entrepreneurship and small business development takes place at the University of Johannesburg's Soweto Campus on 27 and 28 January, with the theme "Transforming townships into economic powerhouses".

As a joint venture between the Centre for Small Business Development (CSBD) and the Wits Business School's Centre for Entrepreneurship, the conference aims to stimulate innovation and knowledge creation in townships.

Representatives from the City of Johannesburg, the Soweto Business Chamber Commerce, local government and universities will present papers alongside township business leaders and local policy makers. Discussions will be a mix of what is currently happening, what has worked and what could work in the future.

"Soweto spends about R12-billion a year and only 24 percent [of this] circulates in the township. The conference deliberations are expected to reveal strategies to increase this percentage and reverse the leakage," says Thami Mazwai, the director of the CSBD.

Townships were built on the premise of racial separation and to this day remain pockets of labour and poverty on the fringes of cities. Turning these townships into vibrant economic hubs will contribute to socio-economic development and political stability, and this has become the challenge of the day.

Presentations at the conference will revolve around a number of international and local research papers, with international topics such as "Social entrepreneurship as a social force for welfare and prosperity in social settings" and "Very small business and local economic development". Local subjects will include topics like "The potential in the informal sector" and "Barriers perceived and experienced by small, micro and medium enterprises in Mamelodi".

Other papers will address women and youth entrepreneurship.

A highlight of the conference will be the launching of the Gauteng department of economic development's strategy for small business and economic development.

Read more: http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/4775/266/#ixzz0dnEubX4y

Posted at 09:01AM Jan 27, 2010 by Editor in Commercial  |