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Editorial Comment

Vorentoe beweeg en uitreik

Terwyl ons as Vrystaters almal ekonomies wil vooruitgaan, want dit skep die basis waarop ons as mense kan ontwikkel, besef ons ook almal dat, eerstens, die regte ekonomiese klimaat moet heers waarin vooruitgang moontlik is en, tweedens, niemand wat voorspoedig is, gerus kan wees as duisende mense rondom jou nie weet waar hulle volgende maaltyd vandaan kom nie.
Daarom word die dringendheid en daadwerklikheid waarmee die nuwe politieke ampsbekleërs in die Vrystaat die ekonomie en maatskaplike opset in die provinsie aanpak, ervaar as stappe ter bevordering van 'n positiewe klimaat en om 'n beduidende verskil in die vermindering van werkloosheid en verhoging in lewenspeil te maak. Hier word veral verwys na die toespraak van die Premier met die opening van die Wetgewer en na die nuwe dryfkrag van die Dept. van Openbare Werke, Paaie en Vervoer waaroor in hierdie uitgawe berig word. Daar kan ook bv. bygevoeg word die pionierswerk wat die Mangaung Munisipaliteit en die LGWSeta doen om amptenare in Plaaslike Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling op te lei en waaroor ook in hierdie uitgawe verslag gedoen word.
Behalwe dat met hierdie uitsprake die daad by die woord gevoeg moet word, is dit van sleutelbelang dat die private sektor, in besonder die oorwegend blanke sakesektor, hierdie inisiatiewe aktief ondersteun. Soos wat dit tans is, bestaan die Vrystaat uit 'n sebra met swart en wit strepe. As die dier nie oorleef nie, gaan die vel met al die strepe tot niet. Dus is dit in die belang van almal om saam te werk.
Derhalwe word die ernstige hoop uitgespreek dat in die Vrystaat die oorwegende swart regeringsektor en die oorwegend blanke sakesektor na mekaar sal uitreik in goeie trou vir die noodsaaklike samewerking om die provinsie vooruit te laat gaan.

Department in a closet

In its focus on business and development in the Free State, the Free State Business Bulletin finds itself mainly on the terrain of trade, industry, tourism, SMME'S, etc. Therefore we inevitably observe what is going on around us in this respect and one of the things we notice, is the action, or lack of it, by the Free State department mainly concerned with these matters, namely the Dept. of Tourism, Environmental and Economic Affairs.
Some of the matters being noticed, are the following :

• The said Department has launched at the end of 2003 a Growth and Development Strategy for the Free State, saying that this will be worked out and implemented in a series of regional meetings in the course of 2004, according to specific dates. Up to now, nothing has been noticeable of this, or at least what we can see from a public point of view.

• The Department is responsible for arranging a Free State stand at the annual SAITEX international exhibition in Johannesburg and whilst this stand get regularly awarded for good presentation, the media and the public does not get informed beforehand on which SMME's may qualify to partake in this exhibition, or afterwards on what has actually been achieved by whom at this exhibition.

• The same applies mutatis mutandis on Free State participation at the annual Indaba Tourism exhibition in Durban. For instance, who shared in the Free State participation last month and what has it meant for the Free State?

• The same can also be applied to the Premier's Business Awards for Excellence annually arranged by the Department. Would it not be good if a public awareness campaign be run from the beginning of the year on what the criteria for awards are, so that possible entrants can strive to qualify, so motivating the entire Free State business community?

• The Free State is still the only province without a Manufacturing Advice Centre, as has been implemented with huge success by the national Namac initiative in all the other provinces of SA. The institution handling it for the Free State is also the Dept. of Tourism, Environmental and Economic Affairs. It is generally wondered what is going on in this regard.

• Last year the Ambassador of Uganda visited the Free State and it was said that this is going to lead to Free State business relations with that country, with all sorts of possibilities. Since then, however, no public media feedback has been received.

• The Free State Business Bulletin, from it's modest position, three weeks ago faxed a letter of congratulations to the new MEC of the Department and also requested a brief, introductory interview. Up to now not even an acknowledgement of receipt has been received.

With due respect and meant in a constructive way, it is our view that this Department should come out of the closet.