South African National Parks (SANParks) has embarked on an economic transformation journey to get local communities to harness various opportunities available in Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) and ultimately contribute to the national Gross Domestic Product.
Communities and small business owners surrounding TMNP had the opportunity to engage with SANParks staff on investment opportunities inside the park during its Economic Transformation Roadshow on Wednesday at the Alphen Centre in Constantia.
According to TMNP manager Megan Taplin, the roadshow forms part of SANParks’ mission to promote economic and social development in the SMMEs of the parks neighbouring communities as part of its vision to be a ‘world-class system of sustainable national parks reconnecting and inspiring society’.
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‘This is achieved through [the organisation’s] Socio-Economic Transformation (SET) Strategy, which aims to initiate, facilitate and coordinate an integrated development programme for the benefit of current and future generations,’ said Taplin in a statement.
Taplin added that the Economic Transformation Roadshows have a number of key objectives:
- To communicate business opportunities inside the park in relation to its supply chain procurement plans, tourism development and infrastructure projects.
- To communicate timeframes within which relevant business and investment opportunities become available in the immediate, medium and longer terms.
- To provide a roadmap on how to access available and planned opportunities.
- To facilitate local community members’ access to benefits from their local national park.
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At the roadshow at the Alphen Centre, acting head of the SET department Hilda Mthimunye, TMNP staff and its strategic partners engaged with delegates on addressing common barriers that SMMEs face in terms of entry to the parks which included factors such as funding, access to markets, capacity building, compliance issues and skills development.
Communities bordering the park including Hangberg, Ocean View, Masiphumelele, Westlake and other areas in the Cape Flats were then presented with opportunities such as procurement policies, goods and services required and tourism development opportunities.
Additionally, SANParks’ key strategic partners in the business development sector including CoCT Business Hub, WESGRO, NDA, SEDA, SEFA, National Youth Development Agency and False Bay College shared their support programmes and compliance requirements needed to secure business opportunities.
The agencies also gave participants the necessary information on how they can be supported to start and grow their small businesses.
‘Robust business discussions were held during the sessions to assist emerging local entrepreneurs to benefit from business opportunities available in the park,’ reiterated Taplin upon commenting on the event. With these roadshows, ‘SANParks has set the platform for local businesses to start thriving and use the opportunities presented to them’.
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