Empretec is a United Nations programme established by UNCTAD's Division of Investment and Enterprise to promote the creation of sustainable small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Empretec works to support entrepreneurs to build innovative and internationally competitive SMEs.

Pretoria, South Africa, 18-21 October 2011
EMPRETEC boosting entrepreneurship and creating jobs

The 18th Directors Meeting of EMPRETEC, the entrepreneurship programme in developing countries supported by UNCTAD, took place in Pretoria, South Africa, from 18 to 21 October 2011, and brought together entrepreneurs from across Africa and centre directors of 22 countries, including Benin, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Brazil.

Organized in cooperation with EMPRETEC's regional partner, the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), this meeting provided a platform to exchange best practices, discuss job creation through entrepreneurship and strengthen the network between the 32 EMPRETEC centres.

In addition to the meeting, participants took part in a one-day study tour to visit SEDA's premises and its business incubator for essential oils production (SEOBI). On this study tour, participants had the chance to explore business opportunities in South Africa and beyond. SEDA, established in 2004 under the South African Department of Trade and Industry, provides business development and support services for small enterprises.

In parallel to the directors meeting, a regional entrepreneurship training workshop offered entrepreneurs from South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Botswana and Zambia an opportunity to improve their entrepreneurial competencies and become part of the African network of "empretecos", as the recipients of the training sessions are called.