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The Free State MEC for Treasury Mr Ketso Makume says the research colloquium plays a vital role in reviving the economy of the province. He says the research will identify key areas that prevent or stagnates economic growth; and point the leadership towards the solutions of those challenges.
The Free State Department of Treasury together with the Central University of Technology (CUT) hosted the 8th annual two days Research Colloquium at the university in Bloemfontein from 7 to 8 October 2025.
Makume told The Business Weekly that, the Free State is one of the underperforming provinces, the last when it comes to economic growth. He said the researchers must be able to research on what needs to be done in relation to economic growth for the province to turn the tide around.
“Research will then help us identify the key courses of what would have been the reason, is it the red tape? Is it the system? Is it the corrupt activities that the people have been complaining about? Is it the lack of willingness by the leadership to explore other things and become innovative? The research must be able to tell us.
Once the research has told us, the research must also point us to the direction we must take, which solutions we really need to make sure that we resolve whatever we have identifies as a challenge or problem,” said the MEC.
The research covered a wide range of sectors in the province, including academia. MEC Makume said academia plays a vital role in finding solutions towards making small businesses profitable. He said academia needs to develop a literacy program in relation to SMMEs to empower them on how they can save, on how they can make money and on how they must be profitable.
Ketso Makume affirmed that the University of the Free State (UFS) has developed an app for small businesses; however, some find it difficult to download it. He said the app must be made user-friendly for the people, however, as government, they are not rejecting the app but it must be an integral part of empowering small businesses.
The Acting HOD of the Free State Department of Treasury Mr Pakiso Lebone said the colloquium plays an important role as it will help the leadership make informed decisions, especially towards finance and service delivery.
Lebone said the department has ventured into collaboration with institutions of higher learning including the CUT and UFS so that they, as the leadership can make decisions that are evidence based and leverage on their capacity on research.
Researchers from across sectors shared their research papers with the colloquium, with solutions on how the province can improve its economy and attract investors. The presentations also showed the available lucrative opportunities for potential investors in projects like the airport development node, the N8 corridor development and many other opportunities in the built industry and engineering.
“I am very satisfied with the presentations that have been delivered, if you look at the nature of the presentations, they are predominantly on issues that are affecting the province; there was a presentation around infrastructure, AI by the department of health, which cuts on quite a number of issues that affect service delivery. There was also a presentation on Free State Growth and Development 2050 vision, which also set a tone in terms of where we want to go as a province.
Equally so, there was also a presentation around economic recovery wherein it was evident that there has been some improvements with regards to mining as well as agriculture; so I am quite happy with the type of research that has been delivered, it is really taking us somewhere as a province,” said Lebone.
