Progressive Business Forum set to produce more jobs in business

NOMFUNDO NONDZUBE

 

Port Elizabeth businessmen and women gathered for the PBF (Progressive Business Forum) which took place in Port Elizabeth at the Pine Lodge recently, the agenda for the day was to make sure that the presence in the Eastern Cape is strengthened.

 

Opening statements were made by the Convenor of the PBF, Daryl Swanepoel, who explained that the forum is a partnership for political leaders and business people. 

“This forum is a way of promoting a core of business people to eradicate poverty and implement a business that produces jobs and creates wealth,” he said.In his speech Swanepoel expressed how South Africa is far better than before. “To date, 2.3 million people have been given houses, hospitals and clinics have been built, there has been an ARV programme that benefits millions of people who are infected by HIV/AIDS. This goes to show that the ANC has a good story to tell,” he said. He also explained about the number of people who get social grants from the government of the ANC, “16 million people who receive grants in South Africa, and where R1 trillion has been spent on infrastructure. “There have certainly been significant changes in people’s lives and what we require now is consistency,” he said. 

 

Deputy Minister of The Dti, Elizabeth Thabethe was among the guests who were attending the event when addressing the forum she said through the PBF, more South Africans will find their voice. “There are few days left until elections and people want to know how their business will be affected, but one thing I can assure is that there won’t be major changes,” she said. During the economic meltdown, South Africa was able to whither the storm, but the country was affected due to the exports done to countries that were also affected by the global meltdown.