10 000 applications for entrepreneurial funding in KZN

YOUTH and female entrepreneurs have taken centre stage in the drive to create business and employment opportunities in KwaZulu-Natal, with close to 10 000 applications submitted to the provincial government for business funding.

- THAMI MAGUBANE [e-mail]

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli revealed that the province is banking on women and youth entrepreneurs for its resurgence, adding that funding instruments set up to assist these groups had received thousands of applications during the period of the Government of National Unity.

Speaking on the provincial government's almost one year in office, he said, “Banking on entrepreneurs makes sense.”

“With almost a year in office, I can say without a doubt that the resurgence of KwaZulu-Natal is truly underway.

“The province is abuzz with new hope and optimism.

“The KZN Youth Fund and the KZN Women's Advancement Fund have ignited a spark of hope and opportunity, attracting over 10 000 applicants eager to unlock their potential and contribute to the growth and prosperity of our province. This outpouring of interest is a testament to the pent-up demand for support. It demonstrates both the pressing need for such interventions and the public’s trust in our administration,” said the Premier.

Ntuli also called on local residents to invest in the economy of the province, stating, “Economic transformation in KwaZulu-Natal demands a strategic shift that places local investors at the forefront alongside foreign capital.”