Invitation to 2014 SEED South Africa Symposium 19 - 20 March Pretoria - South Africa
PRETORIA, South-Africa, March 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The SEED Initiative cordially invites you to the forthcoming 2014 SEED South Africa Symposium.
Date & Time: March 19, from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm and March 20, from 8.00 am to 1.00 pm
Venue: CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria (Meiring Naude Road, Brummeria)
Focus topic: Advancing the Green Economy in South Africa: creating jobs and opportunities for innovative green enterprises
SEED focuses on supporting small-scale social and environmental entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs offer innovative business solutions at a local level that are key in leading towards a Green Economy transition. They also are a key contributor to the creation of employment opportunities in South Africa.
SEED has been running its Global Awards Scheme for social and environmental entrepreneurs since 2005 and launched the first dedicated national programme in South Africa in 2010. The aim was to promote sustainable resource use, income generation and social equity through supporting Small and Medium size Enterprises in line with the South African government policies on Green Economy, New Growth Path and the National Development Plan.
As part of its efforts to foster the Green Economy, the SEED Initiative is organising this high-level Symposium in close cooperation with the Government of Flanders, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), and with the generous support of SEED's Corporate Partner, Hisense. The event aims at showcasing efforts by small-scale enterprises in creating green jobs. The event will bring together around 100 participants from government, private sector, academia, development organisations and civil society.
You will have the opportunity:
• to interview high level speakers including Derek Hanekom, Minister of Science and Technology (See Annex 1 for detailed programme and the speakers). If you are interested in interviewing specific speakers, please send us your requests before 18 March to [email protected]
• to participate in the launch of the Social Enterprises Fund by the Industrial Corporation Agency (IDC) and in cooperation with the Government of Flanders. The launch is taking place on March 19 from 7 pm.
• to view green solutions and to interview innovative South African entrepreneurs who won the SEED Awards (see Annex 2 for the profiles of the winners).
Please confirm your attendance before March 18 to the SEED Team per email at [email protected]. You can also request bilateral interviews in advance.