GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Following the conclusion of the first two economic transformation roadshows within the Garden Route National Park, the third and final one will be held in the Tsitsikamma section of the park yesterday, Thursday 27 October.
According to Hilda Mthimunye, SANParks Senior Manager: Enterprise Supplier Development, the roadshows are aimed at small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) from communities surrounding the Garden Route National Park made up of the Wilderness, Knysna Lakes and Tsitsikamma sections.
She says the roadshows will inform participants about available business opportunities within the Garden Route National Park, as well as how to access those opportunities.
The first of the Garden Route roadshows was held at the Thembalethu Thusong Centre on Monday 24 October, for the Wilderness section of the park. Following that, the second was held in the 'Knysna Kerk' on Tuesday 25 October, covering the Knysna Lakes section.
Now the time has come for the Tsitsikamma section to have its roadshow, to be hosted by SANParks in the Coldstream Community Hall Thursday, 27 October. SANParks' Garden Route Economic Transformation roadshows follow the successful inaugural SANParks Economic Transformation roadshows which started in the Kruger National Park (KNP) in 2021 that saw participation from over 480 businesses near the KNP.
Mthimunye said most national parks are situated in economically deprived areas, which are mostly rural, and that she feels they "have a responsibility to try and provide economic opportunities for businesses based in these communities" adjacent to the parks.
"Through the Economic Transformation Roadshows, we are trying to be open and transparent about opportunities within our parks and update the business owners on future plans. It is also an opportunity for small businesses to express how they can better service our parks in the future," she said.
Businesses and business-owners who meet the requirements to attend the roadshows were sourced through the respective Park Forums, People & Parks structures, and local and district municipalities located along the Garden Route National Park.
Criteria
- The business must be located within a 50km radius of the respective section of the park;
- The business must have been in operation for at least three years;
- The owner must be active in the business on a full-time basis;
- They must provide an outline of the business they are in so it can be matched against Garden Route opportunities.
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