Global Entrepreneurship Week South Africa, 14-20 November 2016
The GEW is the largest gathering of innovators and entrepreneurs, who launch start-ups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and stimulate socio-economic development. Each November, a week is dedicated to inspire millions of people from more than 160 countries through local, national and global activities designed to help them unleash their potential as entrepreneurs and innovators. In Africa, the African Union (AU), through its blueprint for socio-economic development, Agenda 2063: the Africa We Want, encompasses the ideals of entrepreneurship and innovation through its developmental aspirations aimed at building a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem on the continent.
GEW South Africa will be launched by Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu, Deputy Minister of Tourism Tokozile Xasa, Premier of Gauteng Province David Makhura and the President of Global Entrepreneurship Network, Jonathan Ortmans. South Africa’s leading chief executives, entrepreneurs, innovators and ecosystem leaders will gather at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) Auditorium in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Friday, 11 November 2016, from 09h00 to 16h00. The launch is supported by various stakeholders, including the Gauteng Provincial Government and the City of Johannesburg. A number of high-level private and public sector stakeholders including, amongst others: Absa, Transnet, Hollard, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Shanduka Black Umbrellas (SBU), the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa), Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), SEA Africa, South African Breweries (SAB) Foundation, SABS Design Institute, Edcon, Microsoft and Telkom have also partnered to ensure that this year’s GEW is a success.
The GEW is a lead-up to the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) which South Africa will host in March 2017. Building from the momentum of previous GECs and the recent Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) held at Silicon Valley in June 2016, the GEC will be held in Johannesburg for the first time on the African continent and will host over 5,000 delegates from 160 countries.
Minister Lindiwe Zulu stated: “The Department of Small Business Development is committed to collaborating with various organisations to ensure that entrepreneurship remains on the radar of all stakeholders in South Africa and the continent. We aim to connect our African entrepreneurs with investment opportunities, market access and platforms for knowledge exchange needed to create, innovate, and unleash their power to create jobs and sustain Africa’s developmental project.”
Young entrepreneurs willing to pitch are also encouraged to register to pitch their ideas at the Idea Space Fair at GEW. Winners will be selected and have the opportunity to pitch at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) in March 2017.
To attend the GEW South Africa 2016 launch taking place on Friday, 11 November, visit www.za.gew.co and register. Over 80 partner events will take place in South Africa during the Global Entrepreneurship Week (14-20 November). Stakeholders are encouraged to register their event on www.za.gew.co.
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