South Africa will, for the first time ever, host the yearly International Small Business Congress, bringing together entrepreneurs and small business role players from around the world.
When and where does it take place?
The congress will take place from 15 to 18 September at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, with more than 1 000 delegates expected.
Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies Davies said the gathering would provide for a platform to benchmark and draw lessons from both developed and developing countries to help sharpen policy development and high impact programmes in the South African small to medium-sized enterprise sector.
This year’s theme
The theme of this year’s congress will be ‘Fostering small business in new and high-potential industries worldwide’. “This theme is of particular importance to South Africa, especially as we widen the market for South African goods and services through stronger focus on exports to the region and other economic groupings such as Brics [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa].
“The theme is also important as we advocate for a diversified economy and we venture into activities geared towards greening the economy. Based on the latter, there are new opportunities for new enterprises and this congress will provide for a learning platform in these areas,” Davies added.
Since the first Congress held in Hawaii in 1974, the ISBC has hosted thirty-six annual congresses in different parts of the world.