Speaker, I want to respond to the statement by the hon Bothman. Early next month we will be hosting the International Co-Operative Alliance World conference here in Cape Town. This will follow a meeting of the Brics co-operative group. I think that this is testament to the fact that we are actually strengthening our role and reputation as a significant country in the promotion of co-operatives.
The Co-Operatives Amendment Bill, which passed through this House some time ago, has now been assented into law by the President, and we are in the process of establishing the institutions which will be created under that law.
But, as the hon member indicated, we continue to roll out co-operatives all over the country on an increasing scale. The example she gave of our work together with the National Youth Development Agency can be matched with other examples that could be given in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and even in this province here, the Western Cape, where I had the privilege to hand over fishing boats to a number of co-operatives which were formed with an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry.
As far as small business is concerned, we have taken the view that we need to focus on promoting much more capable entrepreneurs through the provision of incubation services and also business development services. We've increased the number of incubators supported by the Small Enterprise Development Agency from around 30 to 42.
We have also taken the view that we can't do it all on our own. Therefore we have an incubation support programme, which now has had 30 approvals. I had the privilege the other day to open the first of these at Chemical City in Sasolburg. I think that we are on track to provide an increasing support programme of value both to co-operatives and to small businesses. This is the work that we've been doing over the past five years, and I think that we can see the progress in concrete examples across the country. Thank you very much. [Applause.]