The Free State Corporation
The Free State Corporation (FDC) is the official economic development agency for the Free State Province, established in terms of the FDC Act No.6 of 1995. Its mandate is to play a developmental role in growing the economy of the Free State by providing support to SMMEs, manufacturing, trade, investment promotion and facilitation.
Vision: To drive economic growth and development in the Free State Province.
Statements
- To facilitate increased and sustained private sector investment focusing on strategic partnerships;
- To facilitate inclusive market participation by prioritising women, youth and people with disabilities;
- To assist the SMMEs with funding by providing loans;
- To assist SMMEs in financial distress through provision of business development and support services;
- Strive for delicate balancing of the twin challenges of achievement of development impact whilst ensuring that it is done in a sustainable manner;
- To facilitate export trade through training and access to exhibitions platforms.
Values
- Ownership;
- Passion;
- Teamwork;
- Integrity;
- Accountability;
- Agility and
- Transformation.
Service Offerings
Development Support: The FDC provides products and services to SMMEs and Co-operatives in the form of financial support (business loans) as well as business development support (facilitating training and mentoring service providers). The provincial loan products offered to Free State Entrepreneurs by the FDC are:
- Start-up loans for recently established businesses that are mainly at formative stages.
- Expansion loans offering viable to expand
- Business take-over finance to assist potential clients to acquire a business as going concern
- Bridging finance for SMMEs with short-term cash-flow problems with contracts or tenders