A Summit set to assist local small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in Gauteng overcome barriers to market access kicks off at Gallagher Convention Centre, from 05 - 06 December. A number of industry trailblazers, movers and shakers are expected to share experiences and learnings reflecting on opportunities within the SMME landscape. This inaugural SMME Summit is hosted jointly by the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), pinned to a theme of propelling provincial economic growth through synergy. The SMME Summit will take place against the backdrop of three national key pillars that seeks to advance the promotion of entrepreneurship, strengthening an enabling environment for SMMEs, and enhancing competitiveness and capacity at enterprise level.
The aim of the Summit is to provide a platform to revitalise programmes and interventions that can propel the growth of the identified sectors, mainly by providing new and innovative ways to deal with identified blockages for enterprise expansion.
"SMMEs are important drivers of job creation and an engine of inclusive growth in Africa. However, they need sound policy and operational environment to thrive to generate decent jobs, create wealth and sustain livelihoods, and to transform to large enterprises. This summit offers an opportunity to capacitate participating enterprises to contribute to economic transformation that help addresses poverty, income inequality and unemployment. The SMMEs attending this summit should never be the same after this," says Dr Ayodele Odusola, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme.
The Summit will mainstream SMMEs' competitive advantage; as well as make skills development, incubation and mentorship opportunities available for local businesses. "This Summit is significant in the province for a number of reasons. These include fostering an enabling environment, allowing local SMMEs to dialogue and interface with corporates from various sectors, helping to accelerate their development and empowering the SMMEs through B2B engagements," says Tseliso Mohlomi, a representative of the Gauteng Department of Economic Development.
Through the GDED enterprise development programme and the UNDP Supplier Development Programme, selected and qualifying SMMEs will be trained and taken through relevant and customised programmes that will help them grow. Based on tangible outcomes, the Department will monitor, evaluate and track progress of these SMMEs over the next 12 months.
The Province will spearhead integrated and diversified industry-based opportunities across Gauteng for local business already involved in economic activity.
The UNDP and GDED will together work towards tackling possibilities of inclusive economic transformation and strengthen relationships with the private sector. The Summit will position working solutions and review the regulatory framework for township enterprises. As it relates to licensing, permits and registration, the regulatory framework will be simplified to ensure that it is efficient and cost- effective.
SMME challenges have greatly dominated the South African agenda over the past decade, highlighting gaps in policy and the urgent need for government to address the development of the SMME economy. This intervention will review the formalisation process of many township enterprises through education campaigns on the benefits of formality, in response to the growing challenges facing local businesses.
Among other interested partners attending the Summit, entrepreneurs, SME experts and practitioners, venture capitalists, financial institutions, development finance institutions, SMME associations and federations, private sector companies and chambers of commerce are expected to attend.
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