Thirty-two Nations Gather for Ministerial in South Africa

Soren
Romer

The U.S. Small Business Administration, South Africa’s Ministry of Small Business Development and the Global Entrepreneurship Network recently co-hosted the third annual Global Small & Medium Enterprises (SME) Ministerial during the Global Entrepreneurship Congress  in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

SBA Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of International Trade, Eugene Cornelius, led the SBA delegation and moderated a roundtable on ways to decrease regulatory burdens on small businesses at home and abroad.  The ministerial provided a forum for dialogue among SBA’s global counterparts to share national strategies and program ideas aimed at increasing job creation and economic growth.

This year’s dialogue focused on three key pillars: governing with small businesses in mind, inclusive entrepreneurship, and innovation and digital disruption. Participating dignitaries discussed how innovation and decreasing regulatory burdens on small businesses can assist in new job creation.

Thirty-two nations and international organizations from across the world were represented at the conference featuring agency leaders and other senior officials responsible for small business and entrepreneurship policy. 

 
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012, has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.  The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses.  Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.