News

Some 300 business owners from around Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) outside Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape engaged with South African National Parks (SANParks) on investment opportunities inside the Park during three Economic Transformation Roadshows held last week.

AENP’s Socio-Economic Transformation Officer, Zimkhitha Zungula, says “Upon hearing about the roadshows, the local business owners were keen to take up the opportunity to engage in fruitful and robust conversation with the Park and its stakeholders as they had never had such an opportunity before. And it certainly showed in the attendance figures we had at the workshops in the towns of Addo, Kirkwood and Alexandria on the borders of the Park.”

SANParks strives to promote economic and social development to its neighbouring Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME’s). This is achieved through its Socio-Economic Transformation Strategy, which aims to initiate, facilitate and coordinate an integrated development programme for the benefit of current and future generations.

The Economic Transformation Roadshows showcased business opportunities inside the Park in relation to its supply chain procurement plans, tourism development and infrastructure projects; high-level investment opportunities within the Addo Elephant National Park and provided a roadmap of the “How” to access available and planned opportunities.

SANParks and some of its business partners (Global Environment Facility 7, Department of Tourism, United Nations Development Programme and the National Youth Development Agency) addressed common barriers to entry faced by SMMEs including access to markets, funding, capacity building, skills development and compliance issues.

“We hope that our local entrepreneurs now have a better idea of what opportunities exist inside the Park and how best to ensure that they are competitive when tendering or sending in bids. We look forward to having them benefit from these opportunities in future,” Zungula concluded.

According to SANParks’ vision, “A world-class system of sustainable national parks reconnecting and inspiring society,” SANParks wants to inspire and connect society through enabling SMME’s to harness various opportunities and to contribute to the national Gross Domestic Product. SANParks plans to host more roadshows around the country in the coming months.

Enquiries

Fayroush Ludick
Regional Communications Manager
Cell: 082 888 0201
Email: [email protected]