Swazi Observer

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GEP PARTICIPANTS PRESENT BUSINESS IDEAS TO JUDGES

By Majaha Nkonyane | 2018-03-14

THE Graduates Enterprise Programme has reached the stage where participants are now presenting their business ideas to a panel of judges.

This marks the final leg of first edition of this programme.

In this level graduates from different colleges and universities share their ideas with a panel of judges on why their proposed businesses must be funded.

One of the participants to present yesterday was Lomagugu Lolo Ndlangamandla of Umtfombo Women’s Market who intends to run an agricultural business.

“My business will be working with local famers where I will be buying their vegetables and selling to different establishments in the country.

The advantage to this business is that there is still a lot of market as the players in the market have not fully serviced the local farmers,” she said.

The business, according to Ndlangamandla, is also meant to give local farmers a fresh perspective as they will be getting more value for their money.

This is also meant to empower young people as they will be involved in the different stages of the business.

In the event the business is funded young people will be involved in cutting, packing and processing of vegetables as they will be frozen vegetables to avoid being spoiled as they are easily perishable.

The young entrepreneur also intends to show young girls that it is possible to break into the agricultural market which is perceived as being male dominated.

“We are happy to be where we are with the competition and are looking forward to seeing these young people get their funding and running their businesses.

There is still a lot of work that is yet to be done as we are looking into mentoring young people after they get funding,” SEDCO’s Stakeholder Relations Specialist Mxolisi Dlamini said.

GEP assists graduates through capacity development, provision of loan deposits and linkages with development finance institution, and it targets graduates between the ages of 18-35 years.

The programme supports businesses formed or owned by graduates either individually or in groups in their area of study or in any area of interest.

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