Canada is committed to playing a key role in developing and transforming the private sector in SA and the rest of Africa, the country says.
"The young South African democracy has achieved its political emancipation; however, sustainability requires prosperity and this in turn requires the growth of entrepreneurship," said Sandelle Scrimshaw, Canadian High Commissioner to SA at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria last night.
Addressing a meeting of accredited Enablis entrepreneurs and public sector representatives, Scrimshaw said the Trade Office of the Canadian High Commission is committed to working with the global Enablis organisation to help grow South African prosperity.
Enablis is a global organisation supported and funded by Accenture, HP, Telesystem and the Canada Fund for Africa to assist entrepreneurs who are advancing ICT through innovation and product development.
"We are proud to have been a catalyst for this important initiative and we believe Enablis provides an effective and sustainable enterprise development model that blends financial support with the development of entrepreneurial talent and skills," said Scrimshaw.
He described Enablis as a groundbreaking private sector led initiative that is assisting entrepreneurs in SA to make use of the transformative powers of ICT. Scrimshaw said Enablis was most importantly "a creative mechanism that is using public sector resources as a catalyst to access private sector funds and knowledge to promote entrepreneurship in Africa".
Scrimshaw congratulated the South African Enablis management team for translating the concept into a working organisation with a practical and effective presence and impact.
"We believe Enablis has laid the foundations for an organisation that will have a significant impact on use of ICT to accelerate growth and sustainability for small and medium enterprises in a variety of business sectors and we will continue to be an engaged and committed partner as Enablis pursues its vision."
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