FUNDINGPhoto Jabulani Diammi

AVAILABLE: Present at the launch of the National Empowerment Fund's (NEF) business planner and mentorship programme

in Bloemfontein were from the left Nathan Nadasan, NEF's post investment manager, Mercy Mashiane, NEF legal manager,

and Andrew Wright, NEF chief financial officer.

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To find out more about the online business planner or to download it visit the NEF's website on www.nefcorp.co.za or access the business planner on nefbusinessplanner.

IK you are an aspiring business owner then you can use any other excuse why your business is not getting oft" the ground, except lack of funding. This is because the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) is but one of many government agencies let up to provide access to much needed startup capital for >'Nathan Nadasan. NEF post investment manager, said the NKI primarily to promote black participation in the mainstream economy through the broadbased b nomic empowerment (BBBE1 Typical h this would be done by providing funding for an empowerment buyin or buyout. grow ;m existing enterprise or even establish one. "While we do not provide funding for entrepreneurs that would like to start a franchise, we do however assist black businesses who would like to buy into an existing franchise without discriminating about the kind of franchise," said Andrew Wright, NEF chief financial officer.

An added benefit provided by the NEF is their business planner and mentorship programme which was launched recently in the Free State. "With the business planner and mentorship tool anyone can use it (business planner) to plan for the future and use it as support for their financing application. The mentorship programme supports NEFfunded businesses and external experts, who are successful business owners themselves, to support black business owners," said Wright.

According to information shared with guests at the launch, the NEF's Free investment portfolio makes up of their total portfolio. Not surprisingly their largest investment province is Gauteng with 69,9% of their total. Anyone interested in using the free, which can be used to apply for funding from other statecontrolled funding Institutions, can contact the NEF on 0113058000 or fax them on 011305