Global SME Ministerial Meeting 2025
Navigating New Business Frontiers
Action by small businesses matters in creating big change – in a non-disruptive way. Small and medium-sized enterprises make up 90% of all companies worldwide, and are key to creating a stronger and more resilient global trading system. The first-ever Global SME Ministerial seeks to bring countries together to develop solutions that will take place at the grassroots level of small businesses.
This Ministerial seeks to take the political importance of the small business agenda to a new level, to help countries Navigate New Business Frontiers, which is the theme of this event.
Organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Ministerial is hosted by the Republic of South Africa, and will take place from 22 to 24 July 2025.
Our Vision
The Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and ITC Executive Director, Ms Pamela Coke-Hamilton
- Create a collaborative space for international cooperation with the aim of developing innovative solutions in three key areas: digital transformation, access to finance, and green transition.
- Drive a collective call to action to support SMEs by implementing effective policies and measures for sustainable growth.
- Forge strategic global partnerships to enhance trade, technology, and investment opportunities for SMEs, accelerating their growth and integration into global markets.
- Launch the SME Competitiveness Outlook 2025, offering actionable insights into how digital tools and innovation can empower SMEs to thrive in the global economy.
Why is it Important?
The SME Ministerial Meeting 2025 arrives at a pivotal moment. This year South Africa holds the presidency of the Group of 20 leading economies. That highlights the importance of holding this meeting in Durban to show how small businesses drive growth within national economies.
By sharing success stories, lessons learned, and best practices, the meeting will strengthen global efforts to grow small businesses through trade. This is a unique opportunity to showcase innovations, engage in crucial policy discussions, and build partnerships.
The Business and Innovation Space
The Business and Innovation Space will feature discussions, masterclasses, and small business clinics, while showcasing innovative services and products.
The Ministerial invites experts, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and others to shape the agenda for the Business and Innovation Space by submitting proposals for high-impact activities.
Expected Outcomes
- The establishment of a new Global SME group to enhance national efforts to support small business.
- The creation of a space to learn from success stories and identify opportunities.
- A Call-to-Action to influence global economic discussions, including the Group of 20 in November, the World Trade Organization’s Ministerial Conference in March 2026, and UN Conference on Trade and Development in October.
- A draft roadmap for biennial meetings, leading to Global SME Ministerial Meetings every two years.
- A Business and Innovation space to connect ministers and business leaders.
- A Leadership Dialogue for trade promotion organizations, which will complement the Ministerial discussions.
Date & location
22–24 July 2025
Durban, South Africa
Contact
Programme Highlights
Day 0: Preparing for Success
Trade Promotion Organizations hold their Leadership Dialogue event to explore a roadmap for excellence, inspire new models of operation, and strengthen their links with SME Ministers. Peer-to-peer discussions will be backed up by research, data and case studies.
Day 1: Official Opening & Ministerial Roundtables
The Ministerial opens with high-level speakers, followed by the first closed-door roundtable, focused on critical SME issues.
Day 2: Conclusions and next steps
Roundtable discussions continue, culminating in the adoption of the Ministerial Declaration and a roadmap for future Global SME Ministerial Meetings.