Knysna to host five events ahead of investor conference
To ensure the Garden Route’s residents, businesses and built environment benefit from the upcoming Knysna investment conference, the organising committee will introduce five events culminating in the occasion.
After the success of the initial conference in December, the committee met on Monday to ensure the continued success and growth of the event which aims to bolster business confidence and provide a platform to brainstorm ideas for investment in the town.
The vice-chair of the regional investment conference committee and chair of Yona-Yethu Initiative, Nkosinathi Mabukane, said while dates for the upcoming events were still to be finalised, they anticipated the first one would be next month.
“We are trying to involve the community and are going through the administration process with the municipality.
“We cannot stress it enough; this is something that will benefit the town and develop the youth,” Mabukane said.
“It is important to involve the municipality and locals.”
Events punted in the leadup to the investment conference include the Garden Route Roundtable, an SMME empowerment seminar, an agri and tourism indaba as well as the Ithuba regional investment conference.
Investment conference chair Alan Bril said for the event to succeed it required a buy-in from all stakeholders, private and government.
“We need the input of the community, nonprofit organisations, locals and business owners to tell us their expectations and needs of the town, so that we can incorporate what is needed by the town and prioritise that,” he said.
Knysna municipal manager Ombali Sebola said the conference was expected to take place in November and would benefit the region, its residents and provide solutions to some of the town’s challenges.
“We are committed to assisting the conference managers in any way we see fit.
“For the municipality, the objectives of the conference are aligned with the goals and objectives of the municipality.”