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The Small Business Development Institute and the Department of Small Business Development will host a sequel to the successful inaugural National SMME Policy Colloquium that was held in 2014. This year’s colloquium will be held at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) from 30-31 October 2015.

The colloquium’s principal focus is to debate and interrogate policies that hamper the growth and sustainability of SMMEs. The colloquium also seeks to find sustainable solutions to the challenges that confront small businesses and cooperatives and to identify policy interventions that will contribute to the growth and sustainability of small businesses. The second National SMME policy colloquium will highlight the first anniversary of the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and will provide an opportunity to the Minister to report to the nation some of the progress and key milestones her department has registered since its establishment.

Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu, said that the SMME Colloquium would encourage effective dialogue and engagement between SMMEs, government and other key stakeholders as part of placing small businesses at the centre of job creation and economic development.  “My department is receptive to any new ideas and policy proposals that will help unleash the potential of SMMEs and co-operatives as catalysts for economic growth and job creation contribute towards unlocking the. As part of unlocking the potential of SMMEs and Co-operatives, we have identified five critical areas that could play a major role in the promotion and development of the small business sector. The five areas are: public sector procurement, building market access into private sector value chains, simplifying the policy and regulatory environment, access to finance, and support to township and rural economies.

Minister Zulu added: “I am confident that the collective wisdom of men and women who would be attending this colloquium will assist us to accelerate our interventions in these areas”.

According to Xolani Qubeka, Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Development Institute, the colloquium provides a platform to all stakeholders in the public and private sector to debate and influence policy options that would contribute towards a thriving and sustainable SMME sector.

“SBDI is committed to playing a pivotal role in fostering the growth and development of SMME’s and co-operatives as major drivers for economic growth and job creation, and through the  colloquium we aim to influence participation and engagement between SMMEs, private sector as well as government. The colloquium’s principal focus is to debate and interrogate policies that affect the growth and development of small businesses. More importantly, it seeks to build a more robust and sustainable policy environment that places SMMEs at the centre of economic growth and development in our country”, said Xolani Qubeka.

Issued by The Department of Small Business Development