Small businesses in the spotlight as Global SME Ministerial launches in Johannesburg - Trade Treasury Payments

The inaugural Global SME Ministerial Meeting opened yesterday in Johannesburg, marking the first international gathering dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at a ministerial level. The event is jointly hosted by South Africa’s Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), and brings together over 700 delegates from more than 60 countries.

Participants include ministers, trade officials, business leaders, and SME representatives from across the globe. The two-day event follows a preparatory Trade Promotion Organisations Leadership Dialogue, during which heads of national trade bodies discussed strategies for integrating SMEs more deeply into global trade policy.

SMEs as strategic actors, not afterthoughts

In her opening remarks, South African Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams described the event as “a defining moment” for global economic inclusion.

“Let this Ministerial Meeting mark the beginning of a bold new global compact for MSME development – one that expands access to markets, unlocks affordable finance, accelerates digital inclusion, and ensures that women, youth and underserved communities are not spectators, but architects of economic transformation,” she said.

Her comments come amid growing calls from the Global South to reshape global trade and financial systems in ways that better reflect the needs of smaller economies and the entrepreneurs operating within them.

ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton echoed the need for practical outcomes over political posturing. “This Ministerial is no talk shop,” she said. “It’s a space for us to marshal our collective knowledge and find solutions across three areas that will bring the benefits of trade within reach of more SMEs: access to finance, digital transformation, and green competitiveness.”

Coke-Hamilton emphasised that the ministerial is designed to produce actionable results, with delegates returning to their home countries equipped with tested approaches and evidence-backed policy options. “When you go back to your capitals, your ministries, your cabinet meetings, you’ll be taking back concrete solutions.”

Building a global voice for SMEs

This is the first time that ministers responsible for SMEs have convened at a global level, and the event’s aim is to foster alignment between the trade and SME policy domains, which often operate in silos. Coke-Hamilton noted, “Too often, SMEs are bearing the brunt of global instability – from climate shocks to conflicts and supply chain disruptions.”

Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams noted the broader political context in which the meeting takes place. As South Africa assumes the presidency of the G20, she reaffirmed the country’s intent to use the role to push for reform in global trade architecture and financial systems.

“A dedicated G20 MSME and Startup Working Group is a legacy we are advocating for,” she said. “MSMEs must be recognised as strategic actors, not policy after-thoughts.”

Outcomes and next steps

The meeting is expected to conclude later today with a joint Call to Action, aligning countries around the three focus areas and establishing a roadmap for future ministerials, to be held biennially. These focus areas are expected to include commitments to inclusive financing models, digitally enabled trade solutions, and climate-resilient business practices for SMEs.

Coke-Hamilton closed concluded: “If we fail to act now, we risk losing not just our SMEs, but our shared future. But if we succeed – if we rise to the moment – not with rhetoric, but with resolve – we will have laid the groundwork for a global economic system that truly works for all.”