Minister Stella Ndabeni briefs media on Global Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) Ministerial Meeting, 29 May

Members of the media are invited to attend a Media Briefing marking the countdown to the first-ever Global Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) Ministerial Meeting, to be hosted by the South African government and the UN Small Business Agency in Johannesburg on the 22-24 July 2025, when ministers will come together to create a new space for countries to raise the importance of the small business agenda in shaping a stronger global trading system, ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit later in the year.

The Ministerial, taking on the theme of “Navigating New Business Frontiers”, comes at a time of major changes in global trade, from tariff-related policy shifts to emerging sustainability requirements. In this context, action by small businesses can drive change, in a non-disruptive way, as small businesses make up 90% of all companies and two-thirds of jobs worldwide. Small businesses, including those led by women and youth, play a particularly important role in the sustainable socioeconomic growth of developing countries.

At this Media Briefing, the South African Minister of Small Business Development (DSBD), Ms. Stella Tembisa Ndabeni, and Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, will share the vision and expected outcomes of the Ministerial. Expected outcomes include a call-to-action endorsed by ministers to set out a roadmap of global collaboration in which countries will work to address key challenges faced by SMEs related to access to finance, digital connectivity and the green transition.

Countries from around the world have confirmed their participation, including Brazil, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, India, Indonesia, and Switzerland, among others. Nearly 50 countries are expected to be at the Ministerial.

Details of the media briefing are as follows:

Date: Thursday, 29 May 2025
Venue: GCIS, Tshedimosetso House, 1035 Schoeman Street, Hatfield, Pretoria
Time: 12:00pm

Members of the media who wish to cover the Global SME Ministerial Meeting Media Briefing can send their RSVP to Ms Mpho Phatudi on +27796052659 / mphop@gcis.gov.za or Mr Noko Manyelo on +27712658611 / nmanyelo@dsbd.gov.za

Live Streaming details:
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Twitter: http://twitter.com/GovernmentZA
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GovernmentZA

Media enquiries:

Mr. Siphe Macanda
Head of Communications, Department of Small Business Development
Email: Media@dsbd.gov.za
Cell: 082 355 2399

Ms. Susanna Pak
Senior Strategic Communications Officer
Office of the Executive Director, International Trade Centre
Email: pak@intracen.org

Enquiries:
Collen Msibi
National Spokesperson
Cell: 066 476 9015

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