Pretoria - The 14th annual National Business Awards, which seek to demonstrate the link between corporate citizenship and commercial success, from staff engagement and development to reputation and brand awareness, was held on Thursday.
The Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, delivered the keynote address at the awards themed, “The Role of Business in Creating a Stronger Nation,” which drew parallels between government and business.
“The value of public-private partnerships is that they are mutually beneficial. Their strength is that they help businesses grow their customer base and increase their profit margins, while at the same time addressing government imperatives like employment creation. This is the reason why inclusive growth is central in the development agenda of the South African government,” Minister Radebe said.
Minister Radebe added that “these awards affirm your stature as a critical player in the development of our society. It is through collaborative efforts such as this one that we can attain the goals that are articulated in the NDP Vision 2030”.
Some of the top performing finalists included Coega Development Corporation, Defy South Africa
Signa Group, Cape Town International Convention Centre, Old Mutual Investment Group
Procter & Gamble, South African Civil Aviation Authority and Suncoast Casino, Hotels & Entertainment.
The awards recognized those demonstrating the greatest impact on quality of life, economic prosperity or regeneration through direct investment, pro bono work or employee led initiatives.
They were attended by delegates from the various business enterprises, captains of the industry, as well as government representatives.
Categories included a variety of areas such as Top Performing Entrepreneur, Top Young Executive Award and Top Performing Public Service Award. - SAnews.gov.za
