Latest news with #Ndabeni
The Star
23-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
South Africa calls for greater support for small businesses amid rising protectionism
JOHANNESBURG, July 23 (Xinhua) -- South Africa hosted the inaugural Global Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Ministerial Meeting at a time of mounting challenges for small businesses, marked by disrupted supply chains, shifting geopolitics, and rising protectionism, according to the country's business minister. "Global value chains are undergoing rapid changes, with rising trade protectionism posing a threat to markets for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially in developing and less developed countries," Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni said on Wednesday. Addressing the Global SME Ministerial Meeting in Johannesburg, Ndabeni noted that these challenges are having a direct impact on developing economies and emerging enterprises. Ndabeni said efforts are underway to enhance support for MSMEs in accessing markets and finance, and to position them as strategic actors in the global economy. "This is why we are advocating for the establishment of a dedicated G20 MSME and Startup Working Group, to be formally included in the G20 Declaration in November. Let this be one of the key legacies of our collective efforts," she said. Ndabeni said substantial work had been undertaken to support MSMEs in the lead-up to the meeting. She highlighted the vital role MSMEs play in driving economic growth and innovation, describing them as "engines of economies and incubators of innovation." The meeting, running from Tuesday to Thursday, is intended to empower participants with knowledge, facilitate the exchange of best practices, and promote the development of strategic partnerships at both bilateral and multilateral levels, in order to strengthen national MSME support ecosystems, Ndabeni said.
IOL News
22-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
South Africa aims to shape the future of entrepreneurship in global startup ecosystem
Vuyani Jarana, chairperson of SU20, provided a concise overview of the StartUp20 engagement group within South Africa's G20 Presidency, highlighting the country's vast ecosystem. Jarana was speaking at the StartUp20 (SU20) Midterm Engagement Meeting in Ekurhuleni on Monday. Image: Supplied South Africa has positioned itself to take a leading role in shaping the future of entrepreneurship and innovation within the global startup ecosystem. This was revealed on Monday by the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) at the StartUp20 (SU20) Midterm Engagement Meeting as part of the first-ever Global Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) Ministerial Meeting organized by the International Trade Centre, the UN small business agency, in partnership with the South African government. Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni, said the Engagement Group was unwavering in its mission to propel innovation, digital transformation, and policy collaboration. Ndabeni said this initiative aims to forge robust connections between global startup communities, ultimately better equipping local enterprises to navigate international markets.'We have identified five priority areas for the StartUp20 Engagement Group. 'First, Foundation and Alliance with the focus on enabling policies, and ways to build a more supportive and resourced eco-system for early-stage entrepreneurs and scale-ups,' Ndabeni said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'Second, Finance and Investment with the focus on addressing gaps in early-stage financing, cross-border financing, and ways to derisk investment, for underserved regions and groups like women and youth, including through pre-investment capital readiness support. Third, Inclusion and Sustainability with the focus on circular economy models, green innovation incentives, and pre-investment business support for youth and women led enterprises to improve capital readiness. 'Fourth, Market Access with the focus on facilitating international trade, enabling e-commerce, reforming public procurement systems and supporting regional integration, and fifth, Township and Rural Entrepreneurship with the focus on strengthening local value chains, improving infrastructure and connectivity, and improving access to finance and eco-system support for supporting co-operatives and micro enterprises.' Ndabeni said the establishment of Task Teams composed of both South African and international stakeholders marked a significant step in this collaborative venture, allowing for the exchange of policy recommendations and best practices. These discussions are crucial as they lay the groundwork for a clear action programme to be finalised at the upcoming Startup20 Summit on 13th and 14th November, which will also host the inaugural Startup20 Awards to highlight the best startups and ecosystem enablers from G20 nations. Salome Baloyi, acting chief operations officer and G20 engagement lead coordinator for South Africa's G20 Presidency, shared insights on the StartUp20 initiative. 'Our mission is to empower township and rural communities by breaking down barriers for small businesses, driving structural reforms, and accelerating digital innovation,' Baloyi said. 'We're pushing a bold agenda for startup and MSME development, prioritizing innovation, inclusion, and meaningful participation across all sectors.' Vuyani Jarana, chairperson of SU20, provided a concise overview of the StartUp20 engagement group within South Africa's G20 Presidency, highlighting the country's vast ecosystem. 'South Africa, as a member of the G20, participates in an international forum comprising 19 countries and two regional bodies, namely the European Union and the African Union,'Jarana said. He further noted that the primary objective of this international forum is to enhance multilateral cooperation, with a focus on recovering the global economy, stabilising global financial systems, promoting sustainable long-term growth, and strengthening international economic governance. Nkosi Khumalo, MTN general manager for SME and indirect channels, said they were partnering with various sectors to support small enterprises, drive innovation, and sustainability. 'As the MTN Group, we have invested in 4G and 5G technology to support businesses, developed a fintech platform to support small businesses with insurance capabilities and payment options, and leveraged powerful machines to assist small businesses,' Nkosi said. 'We develop innovation, offer digital skills, and certify businesses to position them for opportunities and contracts, such as those in Information Technology. We are also empowering black female business owners to ensure small businesses stay online.' BUSINESS REPORT
The South African
22-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
G20: Startup20 Engagement Group's FIVE priorities unveiled
Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni has unveiled South Africa's priorities for the Startup20 Engagement Group – an official engagement group under the country's G20 presidency. The minister was delivering remarks at the midterm meeting held at Birchwood in Boksburg on Monday. Startup20 serves as a platform for startups and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to engage with G20 leaders on the challenges and opportunities they face. Foundation and alliance – with the focus on enabling policies, and ways to build a more supportive and resourced eco-system for early-stage entrepreneurs and scale-ups. Finance and investment – with the focus on addressing gaps in early-stage financing, cross-border financing, and ways to derisk investment, for underserved regions and groups like women and youth, including through pre-investment capital readiness support. Inclusion and sustainability – with the focus on circular economy models, green innovation incentives, and pre-investment business support for youth and women led enterprises to improve capital readiness. Market access – with the focus on facilitating international trade, enabling e-commerce, reforming public procurement systems and supporting regional integration Township and rural entrepreneurship – with the focus on strengthening local value chains, improving infrastructure and connectivity, and improving access to finance and eco-system support for supporting co-operatives and micro enterprises. 'Task teams made up of South African and international representatives have been established in these five priority areas. 'This Midterm Engagement Group Session provides the opportunity for these task forces together with others in the broader eco-system to develop policy recommendations that culminate in a clear programme of action to be finalised in the Startup20 Summit on 13-14 November. 'This summit in November will also include the inaugural Startup20 Awards, where the best startups and eco-system enablers from the G20 countries will be recognised. We will also, as DSBD, integrate our Presidential MSME Awards where we recognise and reward our best local talent,' Ndabeni said. She emphasised that South Africa would utilise its G20 presidency to champion 'issues of the Global South and Africa in particular, including issues of public debt, food security, market access, and the availability and cost of capital'. 'With the African Union's induction as a permanent G20 member in 2023, Africa's voice is now more prominent in global policymaking. South Africa plays a dual role: both as a sovereign G20 member and as a strategic member of the AU. As such we are well positioned to support the continent's startup and MSME agenda. 'This alignment allows for greater policy coherence, enabling South Africa to serve as a bridge between global discourse and regional development aspirations, particularly in areas such as startup financing, regulatory reform, and digital transformation,' the Minister said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
27-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Stella Ndabeni unveils R2. 9 billion budget to empower small businesses
Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni has outlined several financing package schemes to fund Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in the 2025/26 financial year Image: Simphiwe Mbokazi / Independent Newspapers Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni on Friday tabled in the National Assembly her department's R2.9 billion budget for the 2025/26 financial year. Speaking during the budget vote debate, Ndabeni said the budget reflected their unwavering commitment to the spirit of the Freedom Charter. 'We are building a more inclusive economy that enables youth, women, and communities in townships and rural areas to participate meaningfully in shaping South Africa's future through Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development,' she said. Ndabeni also said R2.4 billion of the budget will be transfers and subsidies to the department's entities, while the remaining R468 million was meant for compensation of employees at R265 million, R197 million for goods and services, and R6 million in capital expenditure. 'Of the R2.45 billion for transfers and subsidies, the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) receives R1.908 billion (77.9% of the transfers and subsidies). The department manages the remaining R542.6 million, accounting for 22.1% of the total transfers.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The minister said the department has allocated just R990m in entrepreneurship finance packages to the Development Fund, which is meant for new entrants and higher risk borrowers, and R330m to the Commercial Fund for the growth-ready MSMEs. 'We will launch a new Youth Entrepreneurship Fund, initially capitalised at R300m. This fund is aimed at harnessing the creativity and innovation of our younger generation to contribute to the country's growth through entrepreneurial ventures,' she said. 'We will launch the new Women Entrepreneurship Fund, also initially capitalised at R300 million, to enable more women to be self-employed as entrepreneurs and small business owners.' Ndabeni added that R979m in credit guarantees will be allocated for small enterprise borrowers. 'These credit guarantees remain an important part of our offerings, leveraging banks and non-bank financial institutions to take on MSME borrowers that are above their ordinary risk tolerance.' On township and rural economy development, Ndabeni said they will build 50 small business hubs for entrepreneurs and MSMEs in each district. 'Aligned to local industrialisation opportunities, these will be spread across the townships and rural areas, and will integrate the financial and non-financial services we offer as a portfolio. 'We will also refurbish small industrial parks in four provinces - North West, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape,' she said. Ndabeni also said digital transformation of small businesses will be at the centre, as township and rural enterprises often struggle to get access to reliable and affordable broadband services. 'Through SEDFA and as part of our mandate to finance small businesses, we will support 50 internet service providers across 50 districts to provide the necessary affordable, quality broadband to small enterprises and communities in rural areas. 'This intervention will not only deliver affordable broadband to small enterprises and communities, but will bring ownership of telecommunications infrastructure to people who have never owned such infrastructure before and create jobs for the youth.' The department will also support two cellphone repair centres in 50 districts. 'We have budgeted R958.7 million over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), and R310.8 million for 2025/26. SEDFA will also contribute R253 million over the MTEF.' According to Ndabeni, a total of R543m has been allocated for the Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme to empower local businesses in order to drive economic growth and job creation in historically disadvantaged areas.
IOL News
27-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Minister Ndabeni outlines steps to support small businesses and co-operatives
Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni is confident that the legislative and policy interventions will make the support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises more coherent. Image: Kopano Tlape / GCIS Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni on Friday said her department was steadily moving towards closing policy gaps in order to remove constraints in a move to enable Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and co-operatives to thrive. 'We move from the premise that the small enterprise support ecosystem has legislative and policy gaps. To this end, we are steadily closing those gaps to ensure that constraints are removed, and a more enabling environment is created for MSMEs and co-operatives to thrive,' Ndabeni said. Speaking during the budget vote in the National Assembly, she said the amendment of the National Small Enterprise Act has led to the establishment of the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) and the Office of the Small Enterprise Ombud. Ndabeni also said the MSME and Co-operatives Funding Policy was approved by the Cabinet last year. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'We are now working on partnerships to establish an alternative MSME credit rating system as well as a movable asset registry to address the lack of collateral among MSME borrowers. 'The current risk assessment models used by financiers (audited financial statements, credit history, collaterals) are not suitable for MSMEs, as they are mainly designed for big businesses. With an alternative credit data model, we can ensure that financiers are able to use alternative data like bill payments, e-commerce activity, mobile money transactions, and others to foster financial inclusion for the majority of MSMEs.' Ndabeni further said they were working with the Department of Trade, Industry and Commerce on the Transformation Fund. 'This will be a game-changer for MSME funding. We must enhance MSMEs' readiness to secure funding, particularly in poorer provinces, townships, and rural areas.' Ndabeni stated that they have recently approved the National Business Licensing Policy and were now amending the Business Licensing Bill to simplify business licensing and introduce preferential licensing for targeted empowerment and promotion of previously disadvantaged groups in economic activity for specific sectors. She added that the department was finalising the National Entrepreneurship Strategy, which focused on the individual entrepreneur and their needs at different stages of development. Another policy initiative was the Township and Rural Economic Development and Revitalization Policy, which will go to Cabinet this year. 'This policy will enable a more consolidated approach by the government when it comes to supporting township and rural MSMEs and co-operatives. The policy calls for the creation of vibrant township and rural small business hubs, which will require a more coordinated approach by the three spheres of government around zoning, business licensing, infrastructure provisioning, and investment.' Ndabeni was confident that the legislative and policy interventions would make the ecosystem more coherent and ensure that more MSMEs were better served, especially those owned by women, youth, people with disabilities, as well as enterprises from townships and rural areas. According to Ndabeni, the department was also instituting a new service delivery model. 'We are developing a robust monitoring and reporting framework for all ecosystem players, which we will present to the Cabinet this year. We are also establishing internal research capacity and undertaking sector-specific value chain studies to inform targeted interventions in productive sectors of the economy.' She also said they have created a research think-tank to support evidence-based policy and formal partnerships with deans of commerce from higher education institutions. 'We are also finalising the appointment of a new Small Business Advisory Body.'
