New Delhi, June 2: India and South Africa have discussed ways to strengthen collaboration in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, with a focus on boosting economic growth, job creation, and inclusive development across both countries.
According to an official statement, the two sides identified several priority areas for cooperation, including improved access to finance, faster formalisation of enterprises, greater adoption of digital technologies, and enhanced entrepreneurship and skill development within the MSME ecosystem.
The discussions took place at the Ministry of MSME in New Delhi, where Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi met a South African delegation led by Minister of Small Business Development Stella Tembisa Ndabeni. Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and building a more supportive environment for small businesses.
Officials noted that MSMEs play a crucial role in driving economic growth and employment generation in both countries, making them a key area of focus for future cooperation. The engagement also highlighted the importance of expanding opportunities for small businesses to integrate into regional and global value chains.
The meeting comes amid broader efforts to address the digital and technology gap faced by small enterprises. Discussions emphasised the need to enhance digital inclusion, strengthen innovation capacity, and improve technological readiness among MSMEs to help them become more competitive globally.
In a related multilateral development, similar themes were also discussed at the second SME Working Group Meeting under the BRICS Partnership on the New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR). Member countries exchanged views on best practices and policy approaches to support MSME growth, innovation, and inclusive development.
Participants at the BRICS forum reiterated the importance of closer cooperation in areas such as technology access, skills development, and innovation ecosystems, particularly to help MSMEs overcome structural challenges and improve their global competitiveness.
Overall, both bilateral and multilateral discussions underscored a shared recognition that stronger MSME ecosystems are essential for sustainable growth, employment generation, and long-term economic resilience.