29 Mar 2016

Kasane Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) branch has successfully implemented branding interventions for its clients.

Giving his welcome remarks at a business symposium on Wednesday, branch manager Mr Joseph Lennwe said since 2014, LEA has adopted a new strategic approach to offer entrepreneurship interventions to all sectors of the economy until 2017. 

He said the strategy recognises differing needs which local enterprises have and endeavors to meet their varying needs to ensure growth and sustainability of these businesses.

“SMMEs are the engines of economic development in all economies in the world as they drive innovation that stimulate a country’s equitable growth and create self-employment to reduce the rate of unemployment,” he said.

One of LEA clients, operations manager of Dreams Safaris Mr Mist Setaung said it is through LEA that he learned the importance of branding and how one’s business can grow through it. “Though LEA does not dish out money, they invest in one’s growth and international exposure,” he noted.

Another client, Mr Samuel Tshekonyane owner of Big Sam Hubber said he started with LEA last year in March and managed to re-brand his company immediately after being advised to change his company logo. 

He further noted that if it had not been for LEA he would not have managed to brand his company as they helped him meet the costs of branding leaving him to settle only 15 per cent of the amount.

Emphasising the importance of branding in business development, market access manager of LEA Mr Phomolo Akoonyatse said business owners need to brand their businesses as it gives them identity and makes them stand out.

He also encouraged business owners to grow their brand to give them a competitive edge by investing in their employees as this will help yield good results since they represent the brand and services offered by the organization.

One of the Chobe youth, who owns a sorghum milling company, Ms Bwaambo Limbo said that though sometimes it is not easy to start a business one should know what they want to achieve in the end. 

She also encouraged the youth to take advantage of government initiatives such as Economic Stimulus Programme.

One of the objectives of the symposium was to create a platform for clients to showcase the tangible interventions that LEA has offered their business which covers branding, packaging, labelling and websites. Ends