Innovative Entrepreneurs Award 2004 launched

THE annual Innovative Entrepreneurs Awards (IEA) for 2004, which target the small to medium enterprises sector (SMEs), was launched amid pomp and fanfare in Windhoek on Friday.

The aim of holding a launch was to draw the public’s attention to the importance of the IEA and the benefits for those who enter. This year’s awards will be judged in the categories of manufacturing, trade and services, women in business, youth, bright business ideas and innovation in SME service provision.The deadline for handing in competition applications is September 3.Up for grabs in each of the first five categories is N$10 000 for the winner, a second prize of N$5 000 and N$3 000 for the third prize.There is also a N$13 000 award in the ‘Innovation in SME Service Provision’ for the organisation that is doing its best in assisting SMEs.Local business guru, Harold Pupkewitz, said the essence of successful entrepreneurship was attitude backed by sound business knowledge, skills and hard work.Pupkewitz said if the private and public sectors joined hands, the country would achieve the objectives of Vision 2030.He said his company readily supported SMEs because it saw it as genuine empowerment in helping and encouraging the opening up of business opportunities for all Namibians who possessed determination.Minister of Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation, Nahas Angula, said through the award, he had witnessed the opportunities it gave SMEs.He added that he was impressed by the number of innovative businesses operating in the country.”If I have to define SMEs, I would say that small, micro and medium enterprises are the backbone of any vibrant economy.By providing new pragmatic ideas and brilliant innovation in existing ones, they stimulate a synergy that brings together Government legislation, the entrepreneurs and business fraternity at large.”Angula said only through showcasing innovativeness could local business catapult itself into the international arena.He urged Namibian businesses to become more innovative both in technology as well as management style.Angula said further that, with all its potential, Africa could emerge as an economic power – despite Africa being labelled an economic disaster in some circle.Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, Bernhard Esau, who is a member of IEA advisory committee, said it was Government’s aim to promote a thriving SME sector and help it realise its full potential and full economic participation.Esau said his ministry “takes special interest on this programme because it showcases what Namibians, especially the previously disadvantaged Namibians can achieve”.”Small businesses are regarded one of the various tools for economic empowerment through participating, and I want to emphasise here that SME development is probably one tool which is geared towards the most promotion of the wealth and economic empowerment of the masses.”The Innovative Entrepreneurs Award is run by the Joint Consultative Committee, in conjunction with sponsors from the community.Sponsors for this year’s IEA include the Pupkewitz Group, Namdeb, Air Namibia, Bank Windhoek, NamPost, Hivos, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and The Namibian.JCC Board chairperson Anne Gebhardt said the JCC had been overwhelmed with the response from the local business community.She said the response indicated that IEA was an important event for the nation.This year’s awards will be judged in the categories of manufacturing, trade and services, women in business, youth, bright business ideas and innovation in SME service provision.The deadline for handing in competition applications is September 3.Up for grabs in each of the first five categories is N$10 000 for the winner, a second prize of N$5 000 and N$3 000 for the third prize.There is also a N$13 000 award in the ‘Innovation in SME Service Provision’ for the organisation that is doing its best in assisting SMEs.Local business guru, Harold Pupkewitz, said the essence of successful entrepreneurship was attitude backed by sound business knowledge, skills and hard work.Pupkewitz said if the private and public sectors joined hands, the country would achieve the objectives of Vision 2030.He said his company readily supported SMEs because it saw it as genuine empowerment in helping and encouraging the opening up of business opportunities for all Namibians who possessed determination.Minister of Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation, Nahas Angula, said through the award, he had witnessed the opportunities it gave SMEs.He added that he was impressed by the number of innovative businesses operating in the country.”If I have to define SMEs, I would say that small, micro and medium enterprises are the backbone of any vibrant economy.By providing new pragmatic ideas and brilliant innovation in existing ones, they stimulate a synergy that brings together Government legislation, the entrepreneurs and business fraternity at large.”Angula said only through showcasing innovativeness could local business catapult itself into the international arena.He urged Namibian businesses to become more innovative both in technology as well as management style.Angula said further that, with all its potential, Africa could emerge as an economic power – despite Africa being labelled an economic disaster in some circle.Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, Bernhard Esau, who is a member of IEA advisory committee, said it was Government’s aim to promote a thriving SME sector and help it realise its full potential and full economic participation.Esau said his ministry “takes special interest on this programme because it showcases what Namibians, especially the previously disadvantaged Namibians can achieve”.”Small businesses are regarded one of the various tools for economic empowerment through participating, and I want to emphasise here that SME development is probably one tool which is geared towards the most promotion of the wealth and economic empowerment of the masses.”The Innovative Entrepreneurs Award is run by the Joint Consultative Committee, in conjunction with sponsors from the community.Sponsors for this year’s IEA include the Pupkewitz Group, Namdeb, Air Namibia, Bank Windhoek, NamPost, Hivos, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and The Namibian. JCC Board chairperson Anne Gebhardt said the JCC had been overwhelmed with the response from the local business community.She said the response indicated that IEA was an important event for the nation.