OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTREPRENEURS AT BIGGEST BRAAI

MBABANE – More opportunities await local manufacturing entrepreneurs at this year’s Biggest Braai scheduled for July 20, 2024.     

The Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO) and Eswatini Biggest Braai will be working hand-in-hand to create opportunities for local entrepreneurs. SEDCO is a government-owned (Category ‘A’) public enterprise whose primary mandate is to spearhead enterprise development and promotion in Eswatini through the provision of customised entrepreneurial capacity development and business support interventions.

Stimulating

Such interventions are aimed at stimulating, supporting, sustaining and growing micro, small and medium enterprises in Eswatini. The Eswatini Biggest Braai is a fundraiser event, whose purpose is to accumulate funds to assist in Philani Maswati projects all over the country. Philani Maswati is a non-profit organisation, whose patron is Her Majesty the Indlovukazi. Its mission is to assist elderly people in the country.

In an interview with the chairperson, Lutfo Dlamini, he said yesterday they had a fruitful meeting with SEDCO as they discussed ways on how they could create more opportunities. He said this year’s edition will be bigger and better, as it will be used as a tool to help improve the economic scale of the country. Dlamini said it will not only benefit the entertainment fraternity, but also young manufacturing entrepreneurs.

“We need emaSwati to supply Eswatini-made braai stands, charcoal and Braai meat suppliers, to mention a few items. We will be having different enterprises and stalls that will help market entrepreneurs. We believe we can work together to create opportunities and also help the less privileged,” he added. Moreover, Dlamini said this year they will be having special appearances and performances. “We are getting surprises from three African countries, besides South Africa. Special attractions never seen at Eswatini before,” he said.

Attracting

Dlamini said the Eswatini Biggest Braai has continued to grow and was now attracting people from outside of the country. The last edition had models and designers from South Africa and other countries in the SADC region. It saw over 4 000 emaSwati attend different fun-filled activities from morning until midnight.

The event was first launched in 2015, and since then, individuals and businesses from all walks of life have convened in one place. They have been treated to good food and music while also promoting their businesses.
However, for the past two years; 2020 and 2021, the event could not be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, Dlamini said the organisation struggled to make ends meet as there were not enough funds to finance major projects.

Headlines

In 2019, the event made headlines after attracting over 9 000 people who flocked the Mavuso Exhibition and Trade Centre in Manzini. The proceeds that were made from the fifth edition of the event were used to complete Philani Maswati’s old age home at Dvokolwako.  Those who attended included different stakeholders and companies who simultaneously braaied meat and enjoyed music from various performers. The event kicked off at noon, and most stakeholders had pitched their gazebos to market their brands and products.

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