[full]The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) plan for an entrepreneur-led Gauteng will “grow the Gauteng economy at a faster rate than we ever imagined,” said DA Gauteng premier candidate Mmusi Maimane in a speech with business representatives in Johannesburg on Monday.
“We live in a province where change is critical to the growth of South Africa’s economy as a whole. Our mission here is to create a Gauteng economy that can grow and become equitable, efficient and stable,” said Maimane.
The DA’s plan involves renting out government offices to the most innovative people for just R1 a year.
“These premises will act as incubators for small business,” he said, “We will also subsidise basic resources like internet and phone lines free of charge.”
“Imagine what a difference that will make for many up and coming entrepreneurs with serious plans to grow their business and create jobs?”
Further, Maimane expressed the DA’s intention to facilitate access to business advice for start-ups in order for suppliers to reap the benefits as well.
“We also know that one of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face is access to expensive business advisory services like accounting, insurance and training for staff,” he said.
“That’s why for qualifying entrepreneurs, we intend to roll-out Opportunity Cards. We will make a budget available, in partnership with the private sector, to provide credits on these cards to businesses so that they can access support services from accredited suppliers at a discounted rate.”
Maimane added that the establishment of an entrepreneurial academy will be one of the DA’s main initiatives to help build a foundation for up and coming business people.
Maimane further encouraged voters to vote for change in the general elections on 7 May.
“This will be a living, working symbol of our intention to bend over backwards to help people succeed,” he said.
Source: Wikimedia[/full]