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Gauteng MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Mr Nkosiphendule Kolisile says Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) will have to consider paying more attention to their efficiency if they are harbouring any aspirations of competing effectively in the global arena. Kolisile was speaking in a ministerial roundtable panel discussion at the 37th annual International Small Business Congress in Sandton, Johannesburg, today.

Kolisile was sharing the platform with Kwa-Zulu MEC for Economic Development Mr Mike Mabuyakhulu and Mpumalanga MEC for Economic Development, Mr Norman Mokoena. They were leading discussion of delegates around the world on the topic: “Making room for small business – government action to remove barriers to entry arising from, inter alia, dominance of the economy by large firms, state owned enterprises and other entry barriers”.

“Efficiency is the key aspect in ensuring that small businesses are able to do well and gain a competitive edge nationally and internationally,” said Kolisile.

He added that more focus should be paid to assisting SMMEs become efficient to enable them to effectively play their role in creating sustainable employment and to achieve inclusive economic growth.

“We need to invest more in skills development in order to improve the capacity of human resources within the SMMEs and cooperatives. We need to improve their capabilities and expertise as research has proved that with the necessary support, SMMEs become the backbone of employment creation in a country,” added Kolisile.

He said Gauteng had put measures in place to assist SMMEs overcome challenges and barriers. These include establishing the Gauteng Economic Propeller tasked with providing financial and nonfinancial support to SMMEs and cooperatives, particularly access to information which he said had been identified as a serious impediment to SMMEs development and growth.

Other interventions initiated by the Gauteng government include the mentorship and incubation programme, both of which Kolisile believe, will go a long way in assisting SMMEs contribute in reducing Gauteng’s worrying 25.4% unemployment rate.

The International Small Business Congress, which started yesterday, ends tomorrow with a presentation of the ISBC 2012 Declaration.