Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Elizabeth Thabethe
Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Elizabeth Thabethe says government will not achieve its employment creation targets without the contribution of the private sector, as the State’s role lies largely in the creation of a business environment conducive to job creation, rather than the direct creation of jobs.
Addressing businesspeople at a training workshop hosted by the Franchise Association of South Africa on Friday as part of the Franchise Expo, Thabethe appealed to business owners to work in collaboration with the State to create employment.
“Government cannot do it alone. We need a partnership with the private sector, as business has a crucial role to play in growing this country’s economy,” she remarked.
The Minister further encouraged the private sector to work closely with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and access various incentives that the department was offering to assist in the growth of private enterprises.
According to Thabethe, in 2013 alone, the DTI organised international trade and investment missions to over 20 countries, from which a “significant” number of businesspeople had benefitted.
Meanwhile, recent research from the the International Franchise Association revealed that South Africa’s 668 franchise systems with their over 30 000 franchise outlets in 17 business sectors contributed almost 10% to the country’s gross domestic product.
The industry generated a turnover of R302-billion in 2012, adding 3 700 new franchise businesses to the economy, with 46% of franchisors having been in business for more than 12 years and 75% in business for more than six years.