Jozi ready to host the Global Entrepreneurship Congress

07 February 2017

 

It’s all is set for the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC), which takes place in Johannesburg over four days in March – the first time it is held on African soil since its inception eight years ago.

 

More than 4 000 entrepreneurs, start-up champions, thought leaders, visitors, researchers and policymakers are expected to converge into the Sandton Convention Centre from 13-16 March to share ideas on how entrepreneurship could be developed to boost employment and grow the economy.

Johannesburg was selected as the preferred city to host the conference in Milan, Italy, in March 2015.

The GEC Local Organising Committee announced its readiness to host the conference at a breakfast meeting attended by Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu, Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development Cllr Sharon Peetz, SEA Africa Chief Operating Officer Gamuchirai Mutezo and other guests at the Industrial Development Corporation in Sandton on Monday February 6. SEA Africa is the conference’s project management company.

Addressing all the stakeholders, Minister Zulu said: “What is unique is that the GCE is hosted on the African continent for the first time. We need to move into an era of entrepreneurship.

“This conference will provide African entrepreneurs with an opportunity to link with the world. It also feeds into the issue of being a developmental state. All South Africans have to have an understanding of what this means. It has to be on the top of our minds,” Minister Zulu said.

Cllr Peetz said her department was committed to ensuring the conference ran smoothly.

“We will work with the Department of Small Business Development to make sure this event becomes a success. On behalf of the City of Johannesburg, we thank all our corporate sponsors who have come on board. Without the assistance of private sector sponsors an event of this magnitude can’t be pulled off,” said Cllr Peetz.

Mutezo said a lot had been achieved so far. “We have more than 120 investors that have confirmed they are coming. They have indicated to us that they want to engage entrepreneurs. The conference is about developing entrepreneurs and their business skills. They will network as well.”

So far 4 322 delegates have confirmed their attendance. The GEC has previously been held in the United States, United Arab Emirates, China, United Kingdom, Brazil, Russia and Italy.