South Africa, UN trade agency to host first-ever ministerial for small businesses

(Pretoria/Geneva) – The role of small businesses in international trade is set to take centre stage at the first-ever Global Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) Ministerial Meeting, with more than 50 ministers convening in Johannesburg to align on actions to prioritize small business-led development, as announced by the South African government and the UN small business agency.  

The Ministerial, to be co-hosted by the South African Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and the Geneva-based International Trade Centre (ITC), will take place on 22-24 July 2025.  

Ministers, business leaders and members of the media, register for the Global SME Ministerial Meeting here.

At a press conference announcing the countdown to the Ministerial, DSBD Minister Stella Tembisa Ndabeni said: ‘We do not want a talk-shop. We will emerge with practical initiatives that strengthen the global MSME support ecosystem, as well as country-level partnerships that translate policy into action. Thus, I passionately urge governments, international agencies, development partners and the private sector to join us in strengthening MSME ecosystems.’ 

ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton said: ‘Small businesses form the foundation of trade, so their ability to navigate and benefit from this changing landscape is key. For change to happen at that level, the small business agenda also has to be a political one. That’s why we’re raising the political importance of the SME agenda at the global level, through this Ministerial.’ 

The UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa, Nelson Muffuh, said: ‘The upcoming Ministerial Meeting is a call for global solidarity and multilateral dialogue, one that ensures that no business is left behind in the race for digital transformation or just energy transitions, and to craft a bold, coordinated roadmap that puts SMEs at the centre of sustainable development. As we look toward July, the UN Country Team in South Africa stands ready to support this vision through policy coherence, technical cooperation and inclusive partnerships.’ 

At the Ministerial, ministers will endorse a call to action aimed at addressing three critical challenges confronting small businesses: limited access to finance, inadequate digital connectivity, and the complexities of transitioning to a green economy. 

Discussions will result in recommendations in these areas, which will feed into upcoming high-level global economic forums, including the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November 2025 and the World Trade Organization’s Ministerial Conference in March 2026. 

The Global SME Ministerial Meeting aims to elevate the political visibility of the small business agenda by providing a platform for countries to discuss and shape economic policies in the sector, reflecting the pain points and perspectives of small businesses.  

Countries that have confirmed interest in participating include Brazil, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates.  

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.  

By pivoting from commodity extraction to value addition, investing in diversification of products and markets, and strengthening regional links to reduce dependency on a handful of countries, developing countries can take steps to stabilize the global trading system, at a time of uncertainty and instability. 

South Africa’s G20 presidency marks the first time the African continent hosts the intergovernmental forum, on the heels of the African Union becoming a permanent member, bringing together development and economic priorities. 

For further information, contact ITCMinisterial@intracen.org

Notes for the Editor 

About the Department of Small Business Development – The Department of Small Business Development is leading and coordinating an integrated approach to the promotion and development of entrepreneurship, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as cooperatives, to ensure an enabling legislative and policy environment to support their growth and sustainability. The Department provides financial and non-financial support to the MSMEs and cooperatives in South Africa. 

About the International Trade Centre - The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

For more information, visit www.intracen.org

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