LAUNCH OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN AGRIBUSINESS CO-OPERATIVE EASTERN CAPE BRANCH
15 Feb 2005
On the 26th of February this year, the National Emergent Red Meat Producers Organisation (NERPO) in association with the Umsobomvu Youth Fund (UYF) and the National Youth Commission (NYC), is to mark another milestone in a concerted effort to empowerment of the provincial youth and women, when the Honourable Premier of the Eastern Cape Ms Nosimo Balindlela oversees the launch of the Eastern Cape Youth Agribuiness Co-operative at King Sandile Great Place, Emngqesha of the Amathole District.
This historic event is the first in a row and is preceded by the national launch of the South African Youth Agribusiness Co-operative (SAYA-Co-op) that was witnessed by the National Minister of Labour Honourable Membathisi Mdladlana in January this year. The initiative is a recommitment by NERPO of ensuring economic empowerment of youth and women through the creation employment and business opportunities while ensuring their meaningful participation in the new framework of Black Economic Empowerment in Agriculture (AgriBEE), and is in line with the Presidential call for youth empowerment through skills development and SMME support.
In his State of the Nation address, the Honourable President has recommitted government on the implementation of the new Integrated National Skills Development Strategy and the review of the policy framework on business registration, tax, and levy payments in order to create an enabling environment for a viable growth of the small and medium enterprises. Although the ultimate beneficiaries of this programme are unemployed agricultural graduates, NERPO has drawn in professionals, and established business corporates to be partners of the co-operative so as to ensure viability of the projects that would be identified and managed by the co-operatives.
The initiative is a strategic combination of persons and/or business corporates who are to bring forth a range of adequate resources to run viable agricultural projects with sound expertise or skills, capacity, financial track record and infrastructure. These co-operatives are expected to eradicate rocketing unemployment rates while ensuring food security and alleviating poverty as projects will be sourced from government and established business corporates.
Amongst a range of high profile guests that are to witness this momentous occasion will be His Majesty the King of the Rharhabe Tribe, the Honourable MEC for Economic Affairs, Environment and Tourism, Chairperson of the Eastern Cape Youth Commission, CEOs of Development Agencies such as Umsobomvu Youth Fund, ECDC, ECSECC, Vimba Agricultural Bank and many more.
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Similar launches will be held in other provinces as well.
Activity Date
Venue
Launch of the South African Youth Agribusiness Co-operative Limited (SAYA Co--op) Ltd
(Eastern Cape Branch)
26 February 2005 King Sandile Development Trust, Emngqeshe, King William’s Town, Eastern Cape Province
Red Meat Information Day
Limpopo Province 18 March 2005
(09h00-13h00)
Mara Research Station, Makadu District. Municipal Area, Limpopo
Farewell & Welcoming Function of the former and new MECs for Agriculture in Limpopo Province and Launch of the South African Youth Agribusiness Co-operative Limited (Limpopo Branch) 18 March 2005
(18H30-21h00) Meropa Casino, Polokwane, Limpopo Province
Launch of the North West Livestock Development Trust and the SAYA Co-op
(North West Branch)
08 April 2005 Mmabatho Tusk, Mmabatho, North West Province
Activity Date
Venue
Farewell & Welcoming of the former and new MECs for Agriculture in the Mpumalanga Province and the Launch of the SAYA Co-op Mpumalanga Branch
22 April 2005 Crocodile Inn, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga Province
Launch of the SAYA Co-op (Free State and Northern Capes Branches) 07 May 2005 Flamingo Casino, Kimberly, Northern Cape
Launch of the SAYA Co-op (KwaZulu-Natal Branch)
20 May 2005
Royal Show Grounds, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal Province
Launch of the SAYA Co-op (Gauteng Branch)
01 June 2005
Pretoria Show Grounds, Pretoria, Gauteng Province
Launch of the SAYA Co-op (Western Cape Branch)
16 June 2005 Elsenburg Agricultural Centre, Stellenbosch, Western Cape
NERPO Conference & AGM 15-17 September 2005
Coega Village, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
SAYA Co-op AGM
Coega Village, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
Enquiries
Siyabulela Makunga
Manager: Institutional Capacity Building, Marketing and Corporate Communications
Tel : +27 (0) 12 328 8566
Cell : +27 (0) 82 483 7155 / +27 (0) 83 677 86 31
E-mail : siyabulelam@nerpo.org.za
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