“I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” (Mother Theresa)
On the 30th November 2022 we will be left with 16 days before the ANC Presidential Gala Dinner and the ANC National Conference. The Progressive Business Forum has designed activities to go alongside the conference.
The PBF will set up a Business Networking Lounge, this lounge will provide an opportunity for business to interact and engage with various leaders in the ANC on matters affecting the country and its economy.
Companies will be afforded an opportunity to promote their businesses by exhibiting their products at the business lounge. The Presidential Gala Dinner, will be hosted the night before the conference opening ceremony. Business will be able to network and socialize in a relaxed environment.
We will host Ministerial Business Breakfast, engagements which will take place from 17th-20th December 2022.
The month of November also marked the launch of 16 days of activism for no violence against women and children. His excellency Cyril Ramaphosa embarked on the following international State visit; Kenya, the G20 Leaders’ Summit, held in Bali, the COP 27 hosted in Egypt and lastly his visit to the United Kingdom. Upon his return His excellency attended the Green Hydrogen Summit in Cape Town.
We have invited various writers to write for our newsletter, for the November edition. They will focus on a four-point guide; on how to build a successful business in Africa. On how to build a social commerce strategy for your business. We will also read about celebrating the spirit that drives SA forward. "It is always about the money"! We will about articles that help us to understand the market. We trust you will enjoy reading them.
The fourth term of Parliament is rapidly drawing to its conclusion. The National Assembly will be on a Constituency period from 5-15 December and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) from 7-16 December. From the 19th of December Members will be on leave. Parliament therefore reconvenes on 6 January 2023.
The subscribers will know that we share parliament Committee Meetings, Plenaries of Parliament and of notices of Parliament which call for inputs and submissions from the public, on various matters and legislation which may be of interest to subscribers. We encourage subscribers to view the Parliamentary website on www.parliament.gov.za to stay abreast of latest developments.
We have engaged with various Financial Development Institutions (FDI’s) with the aim of addressing access to funding and business support. To this end an event for our subscribers and business was held in Cape Town on 15 November 2022 with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). This was a very well attended event. It was addressed by the IDC Regional Manager Mr. Ganief Bardien, and Mr. Sipho Mbele Convenor of the Progressive Business Forum.
The Progressive Business Forum, participated in the SA/Turkey Investment and Trade Day held in Johannesburg and participated in the panel discussion “Investment Environment in the Republic of South Africa and Turkey: Opportunities and Advantages”. The event coincided with a visit to South Africa by the delegation of Turkish Presidential Investment office.
We look forward to the ongoing and enthusiastic participation of subscribers in the programmes on offer designed to enhance communication and interaction between business and ANC representatives in Government.
In closing, I am reminded of words of encouragement by, President Nelson Mandela, who said “But if we can be those “others”—those made by the difficulties rather than discouraged by them—we can push past them and work together to reach a solution”.
Sipho Mbele
Convenor