By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Inside

Minister of Small Business Development Ms Stella Tembisa Ndabeni and Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC) Ms Pamela Coke-Hamilton, addressed the media today to announce the first ever Global Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Ministerial Meeting from the 22-24 July 2025. This meeting will be gathered by the South African government and UN Small business Agency in Johannesburg. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the impactful role that small businesses will play in the growth of South Africa’s economy. “This engagement takes place against the background of a continual change in geo-politics across the globe where South Africa continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring that the trade relations, economic development and other multilateral endeavors continue to focus on the agenda of the developing world.”

The theme of this meeting will be centered around “Navigating New Business Frontiers”. The government believes that the nurturing and sustainability of the economy lies in the hands of small businesses as they make up 90% of all jobs and two-thirds of jobs worldwide. SMEs play a vital role in the sustainability of socioeconomic growth of developing countries. Minister Ndabeni expressed in the press briefing this afternoon that it is an opportunity to “amplify the voices of Small enterprises world wide. South Africa which is on the benchmark of collaboration with various countries in the world is making a point to be more proactive in looking for various means of stabilizing not only South Africa’s economy but by participating in various geo-politcal strategies that ensure countries that are more disadvantaged are able to be developed by the help of this collaboration with the UN Small business Agency. “Through impactful discussions in this gathering, we will propel the global community of SME leaders and other strategic partners in the ecosystem towards sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth” Minister Ndabeni added in the press conference.

Director of the International Trade Centre Pamela Hamilton also addressed the media about the purpose of the ministerial meeting. “There isn’t a better time to host such a meeting. The ministerial taking on the theme of navigating new business frontiers comes at a time of major changes in global trade from Tariff related policy shifts, to the rise of digital technologies, changing the way we do business to climate emergencies, forcing businesses to re-think operations.” said Hamilton in the press conference. This ministerial also has plans of integrating new age strategies of doing business for SMEs to thrive in the global market.

Countries leaders from Brazil, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, India, Indonesia and Switzerland as well as 50 other countries will participate in the Ministerial.