Johannesburg: The inaugural Global SME Ministerial Meeting opened today, marking a milestone in recognizing small and medium-sized enterprises as a key constituency in global trade. The event is co-hosted by the South African Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), with main events scheduled for July 23-24. The Ministerial was preceded by the Trade Promotion Organizations Leadership Dialogue on July 22, where heads of national trade promotion organizations strategized on better engaging with SME ministers to amplify the voice of small businesses in policymaking.
According to African Press Organization, ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton emphasized the pragmatic nature of the Ministerial. She stated that the meeting is not for posturing or politics but is intended to leverage collective knowledge and energy to find solutions in three key areas: access to finance, digital transformation, and green competitiveness.
In her address to ministerial-level delegates, Coke-Hamilton encouraged them to take back concrete solutions to their respective governments, armed with evidence to support these initiatives. The outcomes of the meeting are expected to include a call-to-action endorsement, aligning countries on the development of SMEs through the three main focus areas. Additionally, a roadmap for future Ministerial Meetings is planned, to occur biennially, ensuring productive outcomes for participating countries.