By Seleoe Nonyane
The Private Sector Foundation Lesotho (PSFL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).
The agreement is aimed at strengthening economic ties and fostering great collaboration greater collaboration in various sectors between Lesotho and South Africa.
It paves the way for enhanced trade opportunities, business partnerships, and knowledge sharing between the two countries.
The event on October 5, 2023 brought together key stakeholders, government officials, business leaders, the Durban Fresh Produce Market, and industry experts from both Lesotho and South Africa.
It provided a platform for engaging in discussions, networking opportunities, and exploring potential investment opportunities in various sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and more.
The chief executive officer (CEO) of the PSFL, Thabo Qhesi, said this partnership gives Lesotho an opportunity to grow its tourism sector as one of the drivers of the economy.
Qhesi also noted that this partnership was necessary because KwaZulu-Natal has the second-largest regional economy in South Africa after Gauteng.
He indicated that the province holds 16 big events annually which attract more than 700,000 tourists.
“We want tourism in Lesotho and KZN to be connected. PSFL and its stakeholders will come up with a strategic plan that ensures that tourists who visit KZN also come to Lesotho.
“We will also be looking into improving the lives of street vendors and promoting the growth of their businesses by engaging with stakeholders to establish a cold storage facility similar to the one that the eThekwini Municipality has established for vendors in KZN.
“This is a facility where the vendors take their fresh produce when they knock off every day, to protect them from decaying.”
According to Qhesi, registration of street vendors in Durban is formalised to ensure that they work in conducive and safe environments. He said this is the direction that Lesotho needs to take.
The PSFL was officially launched in October, 2009; it aspires to be a leading and dynamic apex body for all private sector organisations in Lesotho.
The PSFL’s overall objectives are to serve as the focal point for the private sector in its advocacy of policies and to promote the long-term development of a dynamic private sector in Lesotho.
