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Editorial Comment

FS Growth & Development Strategy
The previous month saw the launch of the so-called Free State Growth and Development Strategy, setting some lofty targets for increasing economic growth in the province, raising of standard of living, reducing high unemployment and so forth.
Well, it is said that this is the first such Strategy, but the fact of the matter is that there has been a number of so-called Free State Development Plans - and all of them are gathering dust in some anonymous Lebohang office.
We don't want to be negative per se, because indeed, eventually, if the Free State prosper, we prosper and if the Free State struggles, we struggle.
Our two big question marks over the “new” Free State Strategy, is, firstly, to what extent will the business sector in the province over a wide spectrum be involved in the implementation of the Strategy? Up to now, it has not been much, really. Secondly, with due respect, does the Free State Provincial Government and also Municipalities, have the human resources capacity to effectively execute the Strategy?
We hope the Strategy succeeds. We rest our case with the maxim : The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Universiteit van die Vrystaat
Hierdie uitgawe van die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin bevat 'n spesiale oorsig oor die bydrae wat die Universiteit van die Vrystaat die afgelope eeu gelewer het tot ontwikkeling en besigheidsbevordering in die Vrystaat.
Soos gesien kan word, is hierdie bydrae enorm. Daarmee word die Universiteit geluk gewens en verdien dit alle aanmoediging en ondersteuning om verder van krag tot krag voort te gaan.
Die Universiteit staan egter kennelik tans ook by kruispaaie soos moontlik nog nooit van tevore nie en daarvoor word op bestuursvlak koelkoppe, vaste beginsels en besliste optrede vereis. Mag dit só realiseer.
Van die kant van die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin ons dank en waardering aan die verskillende instansies en persone by die Universiteit vir die samewerking en ondersteuning om hierdie spesiale oorsig moontlik te maak.

Increased circulation
The Free State Business Bulletin is one of the not too credible publications hiding about its circulation figures. Up to last month we printed 20 000 copies per edition as from this edition we increase it, due to popular demand, to 25 000 copies per edition.
These copies are being distributed to mainly business, government and community leaders in about 30 key centres in central SA and some targeted offices nationwide, while the newspaper has of course its extensive website at www.bulletinonline.co.za.