Minister of Small Business Development, Lindiwe Zulu, will in partnership with the Small Business Development Institute (SBDI) and the City of Ekurhuleni, host the fifth National SMME Policy Colloquium from Thursday, 25 October to 26 October 2018. This year’s colloquium, which is the fifth since 2014, will be held under the theme: “THUMA-MINA: Creating and supporting economically active and viable township and rural economies”.
 
Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu, will deliver the keynote address. Other key speakers will be the Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, Mr Cassel Mathale, Executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mr Mzwandile Masina, Chief Executive Officer of Small Business Development Institute (SBDI), Mr Xolani Qubeka. It is expected that over 500 delegates, constituted by, among others, entrepreneurs, small business practitioners, policy makers, government entities, relevant agencies and big business, will attend the colloquium.
 
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. The colloquium will also identify solutions to the obstacles and constraints that undermine the growth of small businesses and cooperatives.
 
It will also 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.
 
Xolani Qubeka, Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Development Institute, said the Colloquium sought to empower stakeholders in the public and private sector to influence government’s policy direction on SMME development.
 
“SBDI is committed to work 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 Xolani Qubeka.
 
Minister Zulu said 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.
 
Minister Zulu added: “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”.
 
The two-day event will be held as follows:
 
Date:           25-26 October 2018
Time:           08:30
Venue:       Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, Boksburg
 
Media RSVPs: Clement Moaga on 0826581357; CMoaga@dsbd.gov.za
 
Media enquiries: Cornelius Monama on 060 960 3158 or email: cmonama@dsbd.gov.za.
 
Issued by Government Communication and Information Systems
24 October 2018