LUNCEDO MNTWENTWE | Big talk at the G20, but where were the SMMEs?

The historic G20 summit hosted by South Africa concluded with bold declarations on global growth and African integration, yet overlooked the critical role of the country's small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in job creation and innovation. Discussions under the B20 banner addressed key issues like outdated regulations hindering trade, financing barriers, renewable energy potential, and digital transformation, all directly relevant to SMMEs scaling across borders and accessing new markets. Despite submissions from groups like Startup20 and calls from leaders such as Standard Bank CEO Sim Tshabalala, township entrepreneurs, youth-owned businesses, and organizations like the Black Business Council were notably absent. This exclusion highlights an opportunity for South Africa to broaden participation in future forums, ensuring SMMEs shape and benefit from Africa's accelerating economic growth.