Remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Multichoice SMME Accelerator during South Africa Day celebration at the Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Programme Director, Mr. Thami Nkadimeng,
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition of the Republic of South Africa, Mr. Ebrahim Patel,
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, Ms. Naledi Pandor,
Group CEO of Multichoice, Mr. Calvo Mawela,
Chairman of Multichoice, Mr. Imtiaz Patel,
Participants in the Multichoice Accelerator Programme,
Representatives from business,
Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Allow me to begin by congratulating all the tech startups that participated in the Multichoice Accelerator Programme, and whose CEO’s are with us today. 

From an initial 168 applicants countrywide, it was your companies that were finally chosen to pitch to investors. You are the cream of the crop as it were, with diverse portfolios ranging from health-tech, to green-tech, mobility-tech, edu-tech, fintech and gaming.

You are truly trailblazers, and are flying our flag high here at Dubai Expo 2020. 

What is most energizing about this programme is that you are showing the world that South Africa has a vibrant startup culture, as well as advanced innovation ecosystems. 

Innovation in science and tech is key to our country’s industrialization, especially in the post-COVID-19 recovery period. 

It opens up new pathways for skills development, employment and self-employment, and prepares more of our citizens, especially our young citizens, for the new world of work.  

The Multichoice Group is a South African company with a solid reputation for innovation and disruption; in our country, on the continent, and across the world. 

The Multichoice Accelerator complements government’s efforts to harness the power of the digital economy and the 4IR.

I am told the pitches to international investors and venture capitalists have been a great success. A number of small businesses here today have in fact been supported with commitments that can provide the capital to fuel these businesses and translate the ideas into jobs and economic output. 

No doubt the over 40 business leads that have been generated will result in tangible outcomes for your respective businesses. 

This bodes well not just for your companies, but for the South African economy in the long run.

This activation is one of Team SA’s legacy projects at Dubai Expo 2020, and stands as an example of the benefits of public private sector collaboration and partnership. 

Drawing on the expertise and experience in cross border operations of firms like Multichoice and Standard Bank who will host a dinner tonight, and companies like Pepsico who have committed to help grow small businesses, startups will gain the know-how of operating across borderless markets and on commercialization across multiple e-commerce platforms.

As a government we have always said that disruption and innovation are one of the drivers of economic growth, not least of all because of the immense opportunities this presents for entrepreneurship and self-employment.

I want to appreciate the work of, and also encourage large firms to do more to strengthen our budding tech startup ecosystem, and to support its expansion.

This programme is an inspiration. It is our wish and expectation that it is expanded, so we see more platforms, applications and startups mushrooming back home. 

I thank you.