The Eskom Development Foundation will officially open entries for the yearly Business Investment Competition (BIC) on June 14, with R1.3-million on offer across all sectors.
The competition is open to local, black-owned and registered enterprises that have been operating for more than 24 months in any province in the manufacturing, engineering and construction, trade and services, agricultural and agroprocessing sectors.
The BIC is aimed at recognising, rewarding and inspiring small businesses that significantly contribute to local economic growth, sustainability and the transfer of skills and job creation.
As part of the competition, all finalists are given an opportunity to exhibit at the yearly three-day Small Business Expo (SBE), which will be held alongside the #BuyaBusiness Expo at the TicketPro Dome from September 8 to 10 in Johannesburg.
The Small Business Expo is devoted to the development and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises by giving them an opportunity to market themselves and interact with corporates and investors.
The expo will also launch and host an investors’ club, which will include investors, procurement managers and business owners who are looking to acquire business services.
Entries close on July 29 and Eskom Development Foundation acting CEO Cecil Ramonotsi encourages small business owners to seize this chance.
“Existing business owners should take advantage of this opportunity to put a spring in the step of their businesses and to take them to the next level. With just under six weeks for entries, I would also urge them to enter as soon as possible to avoid last-minute disappointments,” he says.