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GEORGE NEWS - At George Business Chamber's networking evening last week, members heard how the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (Dedat) is trying to improve water resilience in the business sector in the Western Cape.
Gregg Brill, deputy director of Dedat's Green Economy unit, highlighted a number of water resilience projects that the department has rolled out in the Western Cape that engage municipalities, various other state departments, businesses, research institutes and business support organisations, among others.
In George, Dedat held several meetings with the George Municipality, local businesses and the business chamber last year.
Photo gallery: George Business Chamber discuss water resilience
The department engaged with businesses on how they need to reduce their water use and improve water efficiency, what they can do to improve their own resilience and what business support is available in their endeavours.
"We also identified what further support might be required by businesses and the municipality in engaging with or supporting local businesses," said Brill.
Minette van Zyl (left) of Yellow Star Storage and Mandy Lucas of Bethesda introduced their organisations to the crowd. With them is George Business Chamber president, Dr Dennis Farrell.
One of the Dedat programmes focuses on key economic sectors in the province that are crucial to economic value chains (linked to major exports), are high employers and highly water intense. Proposed interventions in their water security are being identified and implemented.
Water Innovation Network
A project is also underway to establish a business model for a Western Cape Water Innovation Network.
This network will focus on water technologies or services that have the most potential for a competitive water sector in the province, i.e. those that are most in demand here and best suited to local conditions and future climatic requirements.
Adèle Janse van Rensburg, life coach and learning and development adviser, and Andries Janse van Rensburg of Sanlam Bluestar had a chat at the networking evening.
S2L Co-Office
Etienne du Plessis, owner of S2L Co-Office in Commercial Close, hosted the networking evening. S2L Co-Office offers office space to rent at R30 per hour with access to office equipment, telephone lines and Wi-Fi, as well as a coffee station.
S2L Co-Office is one of three companies under the overarching company, S2L Projects.
The other two are S2L Logistics, that specialises in warehousing and transport of cold and perishable products, and S2L Ice, an ice manufacturing and distribution company.
Gregg Brill (second from right), deputy director of the Green Economy unit of Dedat, was the speaker at the event. With him are, from left: George Business Chamber CEO Ingrid Cronjé, S2L Projects owner Etienne du Plessis and Lourencio Pick, also of Dedat's Green Economy unit. Photos: Alida de Beer
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