The Deputy Minister of Minerals, Godfrey Olifant, took yet another step to ensure that the newly formed John Taolo Gaetsewe Business Chamber gets the necessary support.

Mr Olifant visited the chamber recently and reignited his appeal that persistence and perseverance pay.

Speaking to the leadership of the chamber, the deputy minister explained in depth that the mining sector has a huge market where services and supplies remain unsaturated as long as entrepreneurs remain objectively focussed.

The minister also wanted to understand better the chamber’s line of march in as far as its short- and long-term programmes are concerned. He advised the chamber that it was very important to liaise with relevant partners in the realisation of their noble ideas. The chamber must create an enabling environment with the mines, traditional and local authorities so that there is a smooth flow of information that strengthens the chamber’s growth imperatives.

“Your cordial relationship with stakeholders strategically determines your destiny and must always be nurtured to sustain the chamber. You must also broaden your horizon by ensuring that you diversify areas where business can be tapped. Another important aspect is that, pursuant to the imminent growth of the chamber, members must be drawn from different skills to ensure that you cast your net wide in the quest for business opportunities.

There is great potential to win business offers where a representative from the chamber speaks the same language with the targeted company executives. We must use the right size of spanners to loosen the nuts, which is how businesses work,” Mr Olifant said.

Local authorities encouraged the chamber to consult extensively in its endeavour to achieve its legitimate goals of empowering local communities and reduce the level of poverty in the district. There is a soothing belief that the new business chamber has the charm that will enable the mining houses to dance to their music and that constitutes their negotiating skills.