A BUSINESS support centre for small companies will soon open in Duncan Village.

Called the Duncan Village Business Support Centre, it will be officially opened by Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku on Friday, 28 May at Gompo Stadium.

The centre will provide support for small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in Duncan Village and surrounding areas. This will include business registration, business plan development, business skills training, business counselling and advisory services, tender advice and training, networking and linkages, and information dissemination.

According to a municipal report, these services will be provided in collaboration with relevant government and private agencies, such as the National Youth Development Agency, the department of economic development and environmental affairs, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation, the Border Kei Chamber of Business and others.

Once opened, 12 SMMEs from Duncan Village will be based at the centre for a specific period. Industries in which they will be involved include carpentry, welding, plumbing, furniture manufacturing and refurbishment, and pottery. The companies will pay a nominal rent each month.

The Duncan Village facility will add to the two existing support centres - in King William's Town and Mdantsane. "Some of the staff from Mdantsane will help at the new centre once it's up and running," said Khungeka Somnono, the centres' project co-ordinator.

Permanent staff would start in the next financial year.

According to the municipal report, the centre is a flagship economic development initiative of the City and its partners. It is being set up in an effort to revive and strengthen the development of sustainable small businesses in Duncan Village and surrounding areas.

As part of the training programme and capacity building, the City has already trained 10 people in trench excavation, brick-laying and plastering. The trainees, who include men, women and youth, were identified by ward councillors.

Each took part in 60 days of training in a particular skill, held over May and June 2008. "The course content was composed of theoretical as well as practical [elements]," reads the report.

Some of these trainees worked on the construction of the centre. The business centre is on the corner of Mzonyana Street and Douglas Smit Highway.