The Department of Communications aims to accelerate socioeconomic development by facilitating the growth and development of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the ICT sector.
According to National Treasury's Estimates of National Expenditure, it aims to do this - and improve their sustainability - by loading business profiles onto its e-commerce platform. It aims to load 60 such companies by next March.
The department's SMME Development Unit facilitates the growth and development of ICT SMMEs "through a comprehensive capacity-building programme", says the document.
So far, 87 SMMEs have been aided through the inclusion of their business profiles and access to the platform, which an unnamed company was appointed to host in the financial year that is drawing to a close.
The department says the process of adding content - covering sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and arts and craft - is continuing. Quarterly reports have also been developed on job creation through the implementation of relevant ICT projects.
Over the next three years, the department will also continue interventions such as establishing ICT hubs in underserved provinces such as Limpopo and Free State. It will also focus on e-commerce, export readiness and the broadcasting digital migration value chain.
In addition, the department will put together quarterly reports on how SMMEs are benefiting from ICT state-owned entities and the department, it was revealed in the budget 2014 address this afternoon.
The department is continuing to strengthen its oversight of the six public sector entities that fall under its watch by analysing their quarterly and annual performance reports against their corporate strategic plans. It will also provide recommendations and enforce compliance with "applicable legislation on a regular basis".
The DOC will also analyse their expenditure patterns against financial allocations and projections on an ongoing basis, and facilitate the alignment of all corporate strategic plans so they reflect government priorities.
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