Department of Economic Development announced that Alexandra Opportunity Centre is open for business.
Economic Development MMC Leah Knott said this is the 5th Opportunity Centre opened within the City. She added that it follows the skills centre opened in partnership with Discovery in Orange Farm.
“First opportunity centre was opened by City of Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba in the inner city in March 2018, at Marshall Street. Development and support of SMMEs and entrepreneurs play a huge role in achieving economic growth with sustainable SMME’s contributing to decrease of unemployment.
Government has developed the Opportunity Centre model as a key game changer to effective support small businesses and young entrepreneurs”, she said.
Knott added that some of the biggest challenges youth face is high rate of unemployment and lack of real work opportunities. She said as government they need to tackle these serious challenges.
“We also encourage entrepreneurship within the communities. Small businesses are backbone of any economy and are key to real transformation. Government is about creating and enabling environment for business to thrive. We want to change lives through real transformation characterised by optimism and opportunity”, added Knott.
Knott said Opportunity centres offer services such as job seekers portal, general business information and advice. She added that they also do business assessment, gap analysis and development plan.
“In addition, the centres offer tax and accounting advisory services, including company registration, tax compliance, and financial advisory and auditing. Managed workshops, meeting rooms, internet Wi-Fi services offered on a subsidized monthly fee and or pay-per-use basic. There are also funding facilitation including products awareness and application support. Enterprise development and services delivery points. There is partner services on the site and assistance with supplier database as well as compliance issues”, said Knott.
She confirmed that City has partnership with different businesses and associations including South African Revenue Service, CIPC, Innovation Hub, Productivity SA and Small Enterprise Development Agency. Knott said other businesses are South African Institute of Charted Accountants (SAICA), ABSA, TUHF, GenAfrica, Discovery and Smart Procurement World, which provide services free of charge o residents.
“We will introduce other new partners in future. I encourage small businesses and young entrepreneurs to visit the newly opened Alexandra Opportunity Centre at the Multi-purpose Centre on the 8th Avenue”, she added.
