Ladies and Gentlemen
Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
The Leadership of the various collecting societies
Minister responsible for the Department of Small Business Development Ms Lindiwe Zulu
And of course my own Minister Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams
 
Avuxeni, Ndi matseloni, Dumêlang Mmorong, Mmorong, Molweni, Sanibonani, Kusile, Goeie More, Good Morning
 
Program Director, I am not greeting in most of the official languages to pass time or expose my proficiency in these languages. I’m using these languages upfront because I think languages say a lot about who we are as a nation. Languages carry our cultures and values. Our diversity is best exposed when one delves into the different languages that are spoken in this great nation.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, this industry carries the mirror which allows, society not only see itself, but also reflect upon itself what type of people we want to be. The creative arts industry for all intents and purposes is like a canvas upon which practitioners like yourselves conjure up an interpretation of your lived experience to which some amongst us in society can relate to.
 
Minister Zulu, I have no doubt will tell us  how important the creative industry is from a job creation and business development perspective. After all, this industry  is critical part of the modern economy where critical information is produced and distributed through industrial means, applying the creativity of individuals and groups to the generation of original cultural products, which may have commercial value either through direct sale to consumers or as intellectual property.
 
My Minister will on amongst others : focus on convergent digital technologies its challenges and opportunities.
 
Program director, the discussion we are going to embark on today  is not new per se. Across the world it can be traced back to the 1940s, it was in the 1990s and 2000s. All of these periods coincide with technological advancements.
 
I therefore urge you to dissect and discuss  the policy strategies we have developed of the years which seek to promote creative industries , expand the markets and strengthen the development of intellectual property.
 
In that vain, let me acknowledge with deep sincerity that the challenges faced by the public broadcaster and collecting societies are known to us and we will ensure that the SABC must prioritize its resolution.
 
Secondly, I am aware that at times, as practitioners in the industry government appears to be fragmented in its approach to this sector, that too is being addressed.
 
Let me conclude the same way I started, each of us seated here may identify as Venda, Ndebele and Tsonga or any of the official languages as our mother tongues. Despite this plurality what we acknowledge first and foremost is that together we make a great nation.
 
The same applies to governments approach, some departments come from the perspective of commerce and opportunities, some come with platforms and regulations but all of us have one thing in mind and that is how do we ensure that this sector leverages the opportunities that come with the fourth industrial revolution.
 
Let us use this platform to formulate stronger partnership and develop implementable solutions.
 
I thank you