The Department of Small Business Development and the European Union Delegation to South Africa launched the Employment Promotion through SMME’s Support Programme in April 2018.

A vibrant small business sector is recognised as a catalyst for economic growth and job creation, and the partners expect this initiative to contribute in strengthening small, micro and medium sized enterprises.

European Commissioner for Development Neven Mimica said: “Through this programme we seek to contribute towards South Africa’s goal of inclusive economic growth and employment creation through SMME development.”

The Programme will focus its support to SMMEs on sectors identified in the New Growth Path and Industrial Policy Action Plan.

The Programme aims to improve the:

• Competitiveness of small, micro and medium enterprises and their ability to meet procurement requirements of large multinational local corporations, government and state-owned enterprises
• Access to finance for SMMEs with limited/no access to finance (the unbanked)
• Regulatory and administrative environment for SMMEs (red tape reduction)

A Programme Steering Committee has been established comprising government, the private sector, the EU and cooperating partners to provide oversight of Programme’s implementation.