Tunis: British Ambassador to Tunisia Helen Winterton said on Tuesday her country supports Tunisia's efforts to develop its educational programmes, especially through capacity-building in English and soft skills in educational institutions. The United Kingdom aims to broaden the scope of its partnership programme over the next period to include second chance schools and vocational training centres, the ambassador said as she met Tuesday with Employment and Vocational Training Ministier Lotfi Dhieb. This in addition to supporting economic empowerment programmes, mainly through partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), The meeting helped follow up partnership programmes in employment and vocational training, reads a ministry press release. Dhieb commended partnership with the UK in all fields. He also outlined the ministry's priorities, mainly an improved employability of jobseekers among higher education and vocational training graduates. In this respect, he emphasised the importance of scaling up partnership in private entrepreneurship and support of young promoters. There is also need to increase the attractiveness of vocational training so as to attract as many drop-outs as possible and build their capacities so that they can easily integrate the national or international job market. The creation of the second chance school in the governorate of Kairouan under a partnership between Tunisia, the UK and the UNICEF, is a qualitative leap aimed to reintegrating early school drop-outs into the training system, the minister added. It is highly important to beef up language and soft skills capacities of jobseekers and coordinate action in this area, Dhieb further said. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse Despite facing immense challenges, black industrialists have persevered, defying the odds and breaking barriers to create thriving businesses and contribute significantly to the nation's economic development. 'Today, we celebrate the power of empowerment. Empowerment that has not been handed out as charity but earned through hard work, resilience and unwavering determination. 'Black industrialists are not just job creators and wealth generators, they are agents of change, driving social and economic transformation in our communities,' President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday. He said at the heart of every successful industrialist lies a spirit of innovation and creativity. 'Whether it is in technology, manufacturing, agriculture or services, they have shown that excellence knows no bounds and that Africa is a continent brimming with untapped potential and ingenuity. 'None of this progress would have been possible without the spirit of collaboration and partnership,' the President said, addressing the Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference at the Sandton Convention Centre. President Ramaphosa said it was a good moment for the country to reflect on the empowerment journey which is a central part of the changes that have taken place over the last three decades. 'We have about 1 000 black industrialists present here today. This is a living testimony to the changes that have taken place in the past 30 years, and indeed, over the past five years,' President Ramaphosa said. He said empowerment is a historical imperative to provide redress to black South Africans who were discriminated against and excluded under the apartheid regime. 'Even after the advent of democracy, and the removal of discriminatory laws, the racial features of privilege and disadvantage remained,' he said. President Ramaphosa said underdevelopment in townships and bantustans limited access to economic opportunities. 'Bantu education left several generations without the skills needed to improve their economic situation. 'Much ha s changed in our country, but this iniquitous inheritance continues to diminish the economic prospects of many black and women South Africans. It is this inheritance that we are determined to overcome,' he said. The President said for far too long, the country's economic landscape was marked by inequality, exclusion and systemic barriers that hindered the progress of aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those from black communities. The conference takes place on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the implementation of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act (B-BBEE Act). It has shone the spotlight on the achievements, successes, opportunities and strides made by the Black Industrialists Programme since its inception in 2016. This years' conference features 53 large companies or procurers making pledges to buy from the growing class of black industrialists. The conference will culminate with an awards ceremony aimed at recognising the contribution of Black Industrialists towards driving economic grow th, social transformation and in advancing inclusive entrepreneurship in the South African economy. More than 200 entries have been received and ten awards will be announced at the conference. Source: South African Government News Agency