MBABANE:Dennis Mbingo,First National Bank(FNB)Chief Executive Officer(CEO)has on behalf of the financial institution, announced R1.5million as sponsorship for the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.
Government online platforms reported on Monday that the awards were re-launched by Commerce,Industry and Trade Minister Mancoba Khumalo.
"We have been supporting the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for a decade now, having started as a category sponsor and now title sponsor.In light of the way this collaborating programme has stood the test of time,despite the forced gap during the most difficult years of the pandemic, we are seeking to increase our sponsorship.Today we are committing E1.5million, which is nearly double our last spend,” said the FNB Chief Executive Officer(CEO).
On another note,Commerce, Industry and Trade Minister Mancoba Khumalo said through these awards, the Ministry aimed to uncover exceptional businesses that have demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovativeness in their business ventures.
“Over the past years, over 90 MSMEs have been awarded cash prizes and motor vehicles to reinvest in their enterprises.As a ministry,we will continue to pursue an integrated SME support system for the effective delivery of SME support interventions. We believe that through both policy intervention and on-the-ground programmes such as this Award competition, the SME sector will be positioned to meaningfully contribute to the nation’s exports, fiscal, employment creation and poverty reduction,”said the Commerce Minister.
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo receives a dummy cheque of E1.5M from FNB CEO Dennis Mbingo during the launch of the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2023(pic:Gov).