;)
SAA and Department of Trade and Industry sign memorandum.
Posted by Daniel Makhura on 17 May 2017 7:50 AM SAST
Memorandum of understanding to develop and support inclusive sourcing and procurement.
The national carrier said it intends to lead transformation in South African aviation supplier development, adding that the move also comes as the Board resolved to accelerate its enterprise development programme and focus on inclusive opportunities.
Successful implementation of the new three-year SAA Supplier Development Programme will see up to 50% of all consumable supplies sourced from empowered enterprises by end 2018.
In partnership with the dti, the airline will source potential suppliers and provide training and development assistance through regular seminars and engagement sessions around the country.
“There is immense value in nurturing entrepreneurs,” said SAA Chairperson Duduzile Myeni.
“While SAA will continue to derive value from competitive procurement. We are in the business of empowering entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds and levelling the playing field to deliver inclusive opportunity,” she said.
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mzwandile Masina, said the signing of the memorandum is a historic milestone.
“As the dti we are excited to be engaged in this partnership with SAA. It proves that our efforts as drivers of industrial policy are systematically linking together the various divisions of the state towards a common objective and qualitative outcomes of economic transformation.”
Myeni said that it’s the intention of the airline to assume an active leadership role in enterprise development in South African aviation.
“Transformation and inclusive participation in the economy does not begin and end with employment equity alone. It is the responsibility of every South African company to provide opportunities, assist in developing and supporting emerging entrepreneurs. Small business drives our economy and represents the vast majority of the formal and informal sector; it employs the majority of South Africans,” explained Myeni.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Masina said that the facilitation of black industrialists has to be deliberately undertaken in order to overcome the historically embedded barriers to entry that define the market mechanisms of the country’s economy.
“The government and all public institutions must creatively utilise their public procurement capabilities to leverage the emergence and support for this entrepreneurial class of black industrialists that must drive the broad transformation of our economy,” he said
