The fifth National SMME Policy Colloquium which will identify solutions to challenges that undermine the growth of small businesses and cooperatives will kick off on Thursday.

The two-day colloquium is hosted by Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu in partnership with the Small Business Development Institute (SBDI) and the City of Ekurhuleni. It will focus on programmes that will give impetus to the key outcomes of the Jobs Summit, and to link proposed interventions to the stimulus package as announced by President Ramaphosa.

Under the theme, THUMA-MINA: Creating and supporting economically active and viable township and rural economies, the colloquium is expected to attract over 500 delegates, constituted by entrepreneurs, small business practitioners, policy makers, government entities, relevant agencies and big business.

Zulu said the 2018 colloquium places emphasis on the development and support for SMMEs and Cooperatives in the townships and rural communities and locates local economic development as central to the development of these under-served areas.

She added that her department saw the colloquium as a rare and exceptional platform for all role-players to explore possibilities of creating a sustainable architecture for small business development in South Africa.

As the Department of Small Business Development, we are determined to fast-track the radical transformation of the economy through the development of sustainable and competitive entrepreneurs, small businesses and co-operatives that contribute to job creation and economic growth.

Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Development Institute Xolani Qubeka said the colloquium sought to empower stakeholders in the public and private sector to influence the government’s policy direction on SMME development.

SBDI is committed to working with all stakeholders to build a thriving and sustainable SMME sector. Across the globe, SMMEs and co-operatives are key drivers of economic growth and job creation. Through this colloquium we hope to build a more conducive policy environment that enables SMMEs and cooperatives to grow and thrive, said Qubeka.

Source: South African Government News Agency