There is consensus within the ecosystem that we need to cohere around the following five priorities: First, we need to improve the regulatory environment for MSMEs and cut red-tape that constrains entrepreneurs, ranging from informal micro-traders to high growth tech start-ups.

Urban-Econ Development Economists was appointed by the Department of Small Business Development to conduct a study which provides Identification, Prioritisation, and Sequencing of Business Opportunities Including Profiling of Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) and Co-Operatives (Co-ops) as Part of the Eastern Seaboard Regional Economic Development Planning Initiatives.

The Department of Small Business Development led by Deputy Minister Dipuo Peters is handing over business tools and equipment to 59 informal traders in Mafikeng Local Municipality, North West province.

The beneficiaries are part of the Informal Micro Enterprise Development Programme (IMEDP), a 100% grant aimed at improving the competitiveness and sustainability of SMMEs, Cooperatives and informal traders.

The benefiting 59 informal and micro enterprises are from villages and townships, mainly in Mahikeng Local Municipality and surrounding areas.

Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams visiting Gehring Engineering, a Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa) funded firm under Small Enterprise Manufacturing Support Programme in North End industrial sites. Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams is also scheduled to meet with the SMMEs, Co-operatives and informal traders in East London.

The Deputy Minister for Small Business Development Dipuo Peters and officials from Seda and sefa (agencies of DSBD) are in De Aar in the Northern Cape to engage SMMEs, Co-operatives and youth owned enterprises.

The engagements forms part of NIBUS strategy meant to shorten the developmental gap at the bottom rack of the SMMEs chain and it targets mostly women, youth and businesses owned by people living with disabilities.

A total number of 60 informal traders are to receive machinery, tools and business equipment to change the course of their businesses.

The Deputy Minister for Small Business Development Ms Dipuo Peters handed over working tools and equipment to 107 informal traders in Port Nolloth, Namakwa District Municipality, Northern Cape province.

The beneficiaries are part of the Informal Micro Enterprise Development Programme (IMEDP), a 100% grant aimed at improving the competitiveness and sustainability of SMMEs and informal traders.

Deputy Minister of Small Business , Ms Dipuo Peters delivered a keynote address at the Africa Free Trade Expodelivered  on the 5 and 6 of September 2023 at the CSIR International Convention Centre . The Africa Free Trade Expo is an event that seeks to promote the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and provide a platform for South African entrepreneurs to learn about the opportunities presented by the agreement.