EThekwini Municipality will host the Informal Traders Imbizo tomorrow, Wednesday 23 April 2014 from 10:00 am at the Curries Fountain Stadium. The Imbizo is aimed at addressing challenges faced by informal traders on a daily basis and also promoting relationship with the sector, government as well as relevant stakeholders.
Mayor Cllr James Nxumalo says the informal sector remains an important pillar in addressing the unemployment crisis and a relevant vehicle to drive economic growth. This sector plays a major role in job creation and in expanding the economy.
“Hosting this Imbizo shows that the Municipality listens and is determined to address issues that are faced by the traders. As the leadership of the City we want to show them that we care as this is a very crucial component of the wider regional economy, providing thousands of jobs the formal sector simply isn’t able to fill. This will assist in coming up with the way forward on how traders can better work with the Municipality,” says Nxumalo
The programme will include the launch of the Clean and Maintain My City Programme competition for informal traders as well as the signing of the pledge by stakeholders to cement the relationship and commitment to the programme.
The Head of Business Support, Tourism and Markets Unit, Mr Philip Sithole says that one of the unit’s primary responsibilities is to ensure that the informal economy runs smoothly, is safe for better economic growth in the City.
Sithole says regular engagement with the traders enables the Municipality to forge a good relationship with them and it makes thing easier to reach out to them and address regular issues. This also allows an active input and goodwill of all stakeholders as we recognise the role informal business plays in our City. This also creates a very good relationship between formal as well as informal business.
Mayor, Cllr James Nxumalo will be joined by the MEC of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr Mike Mabuyakhulu in the engagement with informal traders.
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