05 Dec 2021

The competitive global markets challenges entrepreneurs to be innovative to remain relavant locally and internationally.

Speaking in Serowe on Friday at a mini-show, Standard Chartered bank, Serowe branch manager, Ms Kgalalelo Edwin said entrepreneurs could achieve
innovation by inspiring local talent and skills development as well as promoting the use of local products.

Therefore, she applauded Serowe Administration Authority for organising a mini- show to allow government and self-funded entrepreneurs to showcase their handicrafts.

Ms Edwin said the platforms have in the past proved to be a way of enhancing sustainability of small scale businesses and preserving indigenous skills and knowledge.

The show themed ‘Self-reliance and Indigenous Skills: Key to Sustainable Livelihoods’.

She urged exhibiters to find a way of passing the indigenous skills and knowledge to the next generations so that they do not become extinct.

Furthermore, Ms Edwin encouraged exhibitors to use the mini-show to network, benchmark and share best practices from other entrepreneurs.

Ms Edwin said traditional artifacts was lucrativei n the tourism industry hence it was necessary to preserve culture through indigenous which could sustain individual and family livelihoods.

She applauded and appreciated exhibitors who took part in the event despite COVID-19 pandemic that paralysed all sectors of the economy.

Serowe Administrative Authority assistant council secretary, Mr Modisane Moletsane said the show sought to market and promote handicrafts for the district, to enhance sustainability of small scale businesses and provide psychosocial support to beneficiaries post COVID-19, through motivation by various speakers.

He said Serowe Administration Authority also wanted to resuscitate poverty eradication projects and businesses that were affected by COVID-19 and also to promote awareness on the various skills and economic empowerment programmes offered by the Department of Social and Community Development.

The other objective was to promote awareness on available funding institutions as CEDA and commercial banks which can assist to grow and diversify businesses. ENDS