Gauteng: Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni has declared this a ‘historic week’ for entrepreneurs and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as she addressed the Startup20 Midterm Engagement Group Meeting held in Gauteng on Monday. The meeting marks the beginning of a week filled with significant events, including a parallel meeting by Global Trade Promotion Organisations, hosted by the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) in collaboration with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
According to South African Government News Agency, the discussions will focus on the reconfiguration of the global trade system and strategies for MSMEs to build resilience and explore new markets. Later this week, the department will host the Global SME ministerial meeting in association with the International Trade Centre. This meeting will bring together ministers, deputy ministers, and officials from over 60 countries, along with various multilateral organisations, to deliberate on entrepreneurship and MSME policy.
The Global SME ministerial meeting aims to address critical issues such as bridging the digital divide to equip MSMEs and startups with essential infrastructure, skills, and tools to compete globally. It will also explore unlocking capital access for women- and youth-led businesses through inclusive financial ecosystems, positioning MSMEs as key players in the green economy, and promoting inclusive trade policies to ensure MSMEs have representation in the global economic arena.
The outcome of the meeting is expected to be a Call to Action endorsed by the participating countries, featuring practical policy measures and reforms that will be advocated in the UN system and integrated with the G20 MSME agenda. Minister Ndabeni emphasized the importance of this week’s deliberations in helping to establish a G20 MSME and Startup Working Group, aiming to define clear terms of reference and an agenda for this initiative.
The ministerial meeting will also provide opportunities for contributions from the Startup20 Midterm engagement, allowing participants to share their insights with the delegates. Minister Ndabeni expressed optimism about building a more equal and sustainable future led by MSMEs and startups.