Supporting the creation of sustainable business environments for SMMEs

The Ditsong National Museum for Cultural History hosted delegates of the Tshwane Economic Development Agency (TEDA) at the second annual Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) Fair on 7 May 2015. Building on its successful showing from June 2014 this year’s theme, “Improvement, a logical form of change”, was fitting. Discussion points centred on addressing challenges that hinder SMMEs’ progress and development, such as the lack of access to markets, skills development and expertise.
One of TEDA’s roles, as per their mandate from the City of Tshwane, is to aid SMMEs by creating opportunities and platforms to promote their development and to assist these enterprises in conquering adversities that face them in their daily functioning within the markets. The SMME fair is one such platform which attracted various companies specialising in, and offering SMME support.

Business Enterprises at University of Pretoria (BE at UP), who plays a key role in SMME support and development, attended the fair. BE at UP supports the vision of TEDA which is to see SMMEs develop into big businesses that will in turn avail themselves to mentor new, upcoming SMMEs.

Four companies walked away with amazing prizes from the E at UP Group of Entities. BE at UP awarded Imania Corporate Hygiene Services with consulting services for the purpose of improving their business, while Continuing Education at University of Pretoria (CE at UP) awarded three SMMEs – Thabitha Mosito from Ga-Rankuwa, Amelia Ramphadi from Alexandra and Thembi Mongwe from Soshanguve – with a sponsorship to attend the short course, Kick-start Your Professional Network Using LinkedIn.