The millions of jobs that people need would not be created by the government or big business but by small businesses, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said during his opening address at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) at the Sandton Convention Centre on Tuesday March 14.
“The jobs that people need throughout the world will be created by the people who are sitting in this room today,” Deputy President Ramaphosa said.
He agreed with Johannesburg Executive Mayor Cllr Herman Mashaba that small businesses would thrive and create jobs.
“Mayor Mashaba is saying that they are going to take a closer look at by-laws that restrict small businesses. Mayor, we want you to roll out the red carpet for small and medium enterprises.
“They will prosper if we eliminate barriers to entry by reducing the cost of doing business, by reducing the cost of data and the cost of transport,” said Deputy President Ramaphosa.
He said Africa was the cradle of entrepreneurship. “We meet here to share ideas of how collectively we can generate an inclusive development and to restore dignity in a fast-changing world and rekindle hope for our people who long for a better tomorrow,” said Deputy President Ramaphosa.
“For our continent, this congress could not have come at a better time because it provides us with many opportunities and it will certainly provide us with benefits.”
GEC Chairman Jonathan Ortmans said he appreciated that the congress was being hosted by the City of Johannesburg.
“We thought it was really important when we began this morning to acknowledge many of the organisations that came together and made it possible for entrepreneurs to be here today,” said Ortmans.
He said this year’s congress was in honour of the late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, who played a significant role in making the GEC what it was today. “Had Kauffman been alive, he would be turning 100 years old today. Let’s remember him as a common man who did uncommon things,” concluded Ortmans.
