KNYSNA NEWS - The Regional Investment Conference (RIC) is an annual initiative focused on driving purposeful investment into the Garden Route and raising funds for the establishment of the iThuba Skills Development Centre & Business Hub in Knysna.
The centre is aimed at being a multi-skills training resource and business hub, to address socio-economic challenges in the region.
Launched by Nathi Mabukane through the Yona-Yethu Initiative, a youth-driven non-profit organisation, the RIC has garnered strong community and municipal support, with its concept endorsed by the Knysna municipality under the Greater Knysna Integrated Strategy Framework.
It is designed to align with the National Development Plan and the Western Cape government's Growth for Jobs Strategy, ensuring its practicality, sustainability and effectiveness.
International investors
The RIC24 (2024) seeks to attract local, national, and international investors to position Knysna and the greater Garden Route as a prime destination for investment and economic growth.
Following the success of a pre-investment workshop in December 2023, which featured speakers such as the French ambassador to South Africa, the RIC24 aims to further build on its mission. The RIC24 has a build-up programme called the Innovators Pitching Competition (IPC24).
This regional contest will take place throughout the Garden Route District, where early-stage, emerging entrepreneurs, and SMMEs present their business concepts and businesses to a panel of judges, vying for the opportunity to present them at the RIC24 for a wide range of prizes and investment capital.
Process of IPC24
Entrepreneurs across the Garden Route are called on to complete a brief form about themselves and their business/idea.
Importantly, all applicants will have to upload a 60-second to 2-minute video of themselves pitching and showcasing their business or business idea, to stand a chance of presenting their business idea or business on the RIC24 stage in front of a multitude of officials, funders and investors, where they will stand a chance to win a prize to elevate their businesses and ideas.
Applications are open and will close on 4 October, with marketing campaigns (digital and print) running for a 3-week period, promoting the competition and Regional Investment Conference.
All applications will be screened by a panel of experts comprising representatives of RIC24's various stakeholders such as the Yona-Yethu Initiative, SMTAX and Wesgro.
To send in the video and fill in the form, click on https://www.smtax.co.za/ipc24 and yanga.ngxanga@smtax.co.za
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