Black entrepreneurs are rejoicing after they were given a table among international political giants to elevate their businesses at the Brics Summit in Sandton, Johannesburg.
President of the Black Business Council (BBC) and member of Brics Business Council Elias Monage said the inclusion of black business at Brics was a great milestone.
“It is a sign the government cares for the well-being and development of our business as it will act as a stimulus and boost the economies of various countries in the continent through the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement”, he said.
Many business delegates who attended the summit said they were forging new relationships with other countries as well as tapping into new markets, continentally and globally, through the Brics Business Forum.
“We believe black businesses, especially township economies, will benefit a lot through continental trade.
“Our aim is to push for the empowerment of township economies to tap into new markets and get elevated to bigger projects. This is an opportunity for black businesses to expand.
“We are encouraging our members to tap into the new territory of business opportunities in agriculture, infrastructure, energy, expansion of the rail network system and ocean economy,” said Monage, adding that with more countries, including among others Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran and UAE, representing 50% of world oil supply, their businesses stand to benefit.
“We are looking for new opportunities to allow the youth to do business in new technologies. We have youngsters who are ready and hungry to unleash their full potential across the continent and the world.
“We have concluded partnership agreements with China, India, Brazil and Venezuela for engineering exchange programmes. We are pushing for township businesses to participate in big projects locally and globally through these partnership agreements,” said Monage.
Senegalese businessman Abdoulaye Diallo said Brics promised to bring economic stability to developing countries.
“We have an opportunity to build our countries’ economies and trade in different industries and help to create many jobs and build our future.
“We need to leave a remarkable legacy for our children and lay a solid foundation in business,” said Diallo.
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