By 
Entrepreneurs, start-ups and business leaders from across the globe gathered at Birchwood Hotel in Johannesburg during the first day of the StartUp20 Mid-term Engagement Group Meeting on Monday, 21 July 2025.
The Minister for the Department of Small Business Development Ms Stella Ndabeni opened the week long session, where she told her audience that the meeting is taking place under global volatile economic conditions, fragmenting global supply chains, and shifts towards unilateralism and protectionism.
Ndabeni however presented an optimistic front saying, South Africa, as the President of the G20 is taking up the baton despite the difficult circumstances.
Challenges facing small businesses came under discussion, these include access to international and continental markets, financing and investment amongst others. The meeting is set to discuss ways in which policies can be adjusted or developed to benefit small businesses.
In this quest to gain access to global markets, Minister Ndabeni said her department has the backing of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“Our President, His Excellency President Ramaphosa, has expressed our country’s commitment to use our G20 Presidency to reinvigorate multilateralism, and the reform of global governance institutions and financial architecture to make them more representative and more focused on the needs of the most vulnerable.
We will champion the developmental issues of the Global South and Africa in particular, including issues of public debt, food security, market access, and the availability and cost of capital,” said Minister Stella Ndabeni.
Ndabeni pointed out that, StartUp20 is looking beyond just local markets, but will also spread its wings across the African continent and G20 member countries. She said with the African Union’s induction as a permanent G20 member in 2023, she said Africa’s voice is now more prominent in global policymaking.
The Minister said South Africa plays a dual role: both as a sovereign G20 member and as a strategic member of the AU. As such South Africa is well positioned to support the continent’s startup and MSME agenda.
“This alignment allows for greater policy coherence, enabling South Africa to serve as a bridge between global discourse and regional development aspirations, particularly in areas such as startup financing, regulatory reform, and digital transformation.
As the Department of Small Business Development, we serve in the G20 Trade and Investment Working Group and have specific responsibility for the Startup 20 Engagement Group, which we undertake in partnership with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation,” she said.
Minister Stella Ndabeni said they have identified five areas for StartUp20 Engagement Group, these include:
First, Foundation and Alliance with the focus on enabling policies, and ways to build a more supportive and resourced eco-system for early-stage entrepreneurs and scaleups
Second, Finance and Investment with the focus on addressing gaps in early-stage financing, cross-border financing, and ways to derisk investment, for underserved regions and groups. like women and youth, including through pre-investment capital readiness support.
Third, Inclusion and Sustainability with the focus on circular economy models, green innovation incentives, and pre-investment business support for youth and women led enterprises to improve capital readiness.
Fourth, Market Access with the focus on facilitating international trade, enabling ecommerce, reforming public procurement systems and supporting regional integration, and
Fifth, Township and Rural Entrepreneurship with the focus on strengthening local value chains, improving infrastructure and connectivity, and improving access to finance and eco-system support for supporting co-operatives and micro enterprises.
“Building on the work started in Brazil, as South Africa we want a dedicated G20 MSME and Startup Working Group and this week’s deliberations will greatly assist us craft clear terms of reference and agenda for this working group.
We have structured the Ministerial programme so that there will be opportunities for inputs from this Startup20 Midterm Engagement. Some of you, including the Chair, Mr Jarana, will be given space to share thinking with the delegates at the Ministerial Meeting,” said the Minister.
