Johannesburg - Small, Micro, Medium and Enterprises (SMMEs) are to benefit from the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
This emerged from the two-day conference on 2010 business opportunities, between the 2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) and government, Wednesday.
"We worked with the department of Trade and Industry and the office of the deputy president to look at the possibilities to host this conference and find ways to assist small businesses to contribute to the world cup," said LOC's Chief Executive Officer Danny Jordaan.
He said while the country was spending billions on infrastructure to deliver the world cup, a conducive environment for small business' contribution was necessary.
"The position we hold is that the fact that South Africa is a developing country there is major infrastructural demand to deliver the world cup unlike other industrial countries like Germany.
"And even if we are a developing country there is no compromise on infrastructure," he said.
The LOC's chief executive commended the "spontaneous response" from various stakeholder sectors to whom the conference was focused on.
The sectors include construction, tourism, hospitality, catering, transport, security, information and communication technology, manufacturing, merchandising and health sectors.
Already the LOC has committed to channel 30 percent of procurement to spend on small businesses, with possibility to go beyond the set percentage.
Trade and Industry Deputy Director- General Iqbal Meer Sharma said the conference served as the catalyst to roll out the national road shows where small business will receive information on opportunities to take part in the 2010 World Cup.
Although specific timeframes were not yet available but Mr Sharma indicated that road shows would be completed this year after which similar events are to follow in 2008 and 2009.
He added that two competitions would take place during the 2010 World Cup.
"First it's the actual FIFA games and the competition of delivering the world cup. We will be able to deliver the world cup," he said confidently.
Dr Joe Phaahla, Director- General of the 2010 unit said the conference served as the first step to expose opportunities on the ground level.
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan municipality called on South Africans to actively participate in the build up to the tournament, saying the world cup would leave a lasting legacy post 2010.
On Tuesday, Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka also assured South Africa, that small businesses would benefit from the world cup.
The deputy president said the world cup would create business opportunities and dynamic growth for the country as well as position the continent.
Ms Mlambo Ngcuka said the country aimed to reach at least 6.5 percent economic growth by 2010 but with the world cup coming and the subsequent boom in the construction industry, this target might be reached earlier.
This emerged from the two-day conference on 2010 business opportunities, between the 2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) and government, Wednesday.
"We worked with the department of Trade and Industry and the office of the deputy president to look at the possibilities to host this conference and find ways to assist small businesses to contribute to the world cup," said LOC's Chief Executive Officer Danny Jordaan.
He said while the country was spending billions on infrastructure to deliver the world cup, a conducive environment for small business' contribution was necessary.
"The position we hold is that the fact that South Africa is a developing country there is major infrastructural demand to deliver the world cup unlike other industrial countries like Germany.
"And even if we are a developing country there is no compromise on infrastructure," he said.
The LOC's chief executive commended the "spontaneous response" from various stakeholder sectors to whom the conference was focused on.
The sectors include construction, tourism, hospitality, catering, transport, security, information and communication technology, manufacturing, merchandising and health sectors.
Already the LOC has committed to channel 30 percent of procurement to spend on small businesses, with possibility to go beyond the set percentage.
Trade and Industry Deputy Director- General Iqbal Meer Sharma said the conference served as the catalyst to roll out the national road shows where small business will receive information on opportunities to take part in the 2010 World Cup.
Although specific timeframes were not yet available but Mr Sharma indicated that road shows would be completed this year after which similar events are to follow in 2008 and 2009.
He added that two competitions would take place during the 2010 World Cup.
"First it's the actual FIFA games and the competition of delivering the world cup. We will be able to deliver the world cup," he said confidently.
Dr Joe Phaahla, Director- General of the 2010 unit said the conference served as the first step to expose opportunities on the ground level.
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan municipality called on South Africans to actively participate in the build up to the tournament, saying the world cup would leave a lasting legacy post 2010.
On Tuesday, Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka also assured South Africa, that small businesses would benefit from the world cup.
The deputy president said the world cup would create business opportunities and dynamic growth for the country as well as position the continent.
Ms Mlambo Ngcuka said the country aimed to reach at least 6.5 percent economic growth by 2010 but with the world cup coming and the subsequent boom in the construction industry, this target might be reached earlier.
- Themba Gadebe BuaNews
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