2007 AFRICA SMME CONFERENCE AND AFRICA SMME AWARDS

25 October 2007

Crown Reef Convention Centre, Gold Reef City Hotel

Ormonde, Johannesburg, South Africa

1. Introduction:

The broader African economy has witnessed a sustained growth over the last 10 years. Much of this growth can be attributed to African governments’ willingness to transform their econmies and create investment policies which are favourable to the Small Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMMEs) sector. SMME Development is vital to promoting sustainable economic development in the continent where the majority of its citizens still live on a dollar a day. For Africa, big business, development institutions, government and other private and public sector organisations have a critical role to play to promote SMME development in the continent through a number of channels including empowerment partnerships, franchising, mentorship support and awareness campaigns and through relevant skills transfer schemes. Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise development is central to the government’s broad-based black economic empowerment agenda. In a recent report, the World Bank stressed on the need for big business, government and other development partners to join forces to ensure that the benefits of the sustained growth the continent is enjoying at the moment trickles down to the lower end of the dual economy.

2.Africa SMME Conference and Awards

In line with the NEPAD’s drive to support and profile the role that SMMEs play in promoting economic growth and job creation, the Africagrowth Academy in partnership with African governments and institutions including Banks, Print media, Academic and private sector institutions and other enterprise support agencies will be organising the 2007 Africa SMME Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony on the 25th of October 2007, Crown Reef Convention Centre, Gold Reef City Hotel, Ormonde, Johannesburg. The Conference and Awards ceremony will be aimed at presenting latest trends in SMME development in the continent and recognising and presenting awards to successful SMMEs by sector . The main aim is to support and showcase Africa’s finest entrepreneurial achievements in the SMMEs sector. This event will be organised annually. The awards will consist of sector categories.

3. Aims and Objectives of Conference and Award Ceremony

  • To showcase Africa’s successful SMMEs;
  • To promote and highlight the role that SMMEs play in economic development of the continent;
  • To present case studies and research findings in the SMME sector;
  • To present South African SMME sector indices and indicators;
  • To bring together governments, development institutions, investors, academics and private sector institutions who are involved in SMMEs in the development of the SMMEs sector;
  • To discuss best practices in the SMMEs sector;
  • To bring big business and SMMEs together “under one roof”;
  • To help promote SMMEs Research ;

4. Sponsorship

Should you be interested to become a sponsor for this vital national initiative, please contact :Dina Potgieter, Tel: (021) 945 4024, Email: to find out about the sponsorship options and benefits.

5. Conference Registration Fees:

- Normal Delegate:R950 (Include Awards banquet)

- Student:R600 (Include Awards banquet)

- Attend only Award Banquet :R250

Each delegate will receive a year’s free subscription to the Africagrowth Agenda Publication which gets published quarterly.

For more details, please contact:

Dina Potgieter

Tel: (021) 945 4024

Fax: (021) 946 1652

Email:

It is our business to help your business!

AFRICA SMME AWARDS

presented by

Africagrowth Research (Pty) Ltd.

25 October 2007

Crown Reef Convention Centre, Gold Reef City Hotel,

Ormonde, Johannesburg, South Africa:

Background: AFRICAGROWTH RESEARCH

Africagrowth Research was established by Prof Nicholas Biekpe in 2004 and is an independent company with its headquarters based in Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa. The company focuses on growth opportunities in Africa and has been involved in the field of development since its establishment in 2004. Africagrowth Research’s vision has always included the objective “to create awareness of the need and the opportunities for investment in Africa”. It sees the establishment of the Africa SMME Awards as a project which could significantly contribute towards this objective.

The Africa SMME Awards are presented to the best small medium and micro enterprises in Africa, measured against specific criteria. Although Prof Biekpe initiated the idea of the Awards and holds the property rights to the awards, a number of individuals and investors have made substantial contributions to the initiative. These include institutions that have presence throughout the whole of the African continent.

Aims and objectives

The aims and objectives of the awards include the following:

  1. To stimulate interest in the role SMMEs play in the African economy. This correlates with many of the objectives found in the objective of NEPAD (New Economic Partnership for African Development).
  2. To stimulate broad financial control, financial reporting, employment and ethical behaviour amongst SMMEs in Africa.
  3. To reward SMMEs for the dedication and hard work they have shown in contributing to economic development & growth in Africa.
  4. To establish an African-wide database of financial information on SMMEs to enable relevant research into growth of SMMEs, best practices amongst SMMEs and to identify growth-variables in the sector.
  5. To stimulate positive publicity rather than negative publicity regarding Africa.
  6. To develop long-term relationships between Africagrowth Research and the various stakeholders. Africagrowth Research regards these relationships as central to the research objectives of the Company.
  7. To create awareness of the work Africagrowth Research does in the SMME sector and other fields.

ELIGIBILITY AND TARGET MARKETS FOR VARIOUS AWARD CATEGORIES

All nominations are free and no entry fee is required.

Africa SMME Award

For the purposes of the Africa SMME Awards an African SMME is defined as

  • owner/manager/group-controlled,
  • with the number of full-time employees ranging from 1 to 200, and
  • an annual turnover ranging between $5 000 (±R40 000) and $1415 000
  • (±R10 000 000)
  • the majority of business is conducted in or from Africa or one of its islands
  • Must be register in Africa and in active operation for at least two year.

The Africa SMME Awards are presented to businesses that strive for excellence in order to be competitive in regional, national and international markets. These businesses are well established, in good financial shape and enjoy a reputation for quality, integrity and service. Furthermore, they act in a socially responsible manner and create a work environment in which their employees can learn and grow.

SMMEs can be nominated in any of the following categories and may only enter for one category. Out of all the winners per category, an overall winner will be selected.

CategoriesAreas

Industrial Sector Award / Manufacturing, Electricity, Gas, Water, Construction, Mining & Quarrying and Agriculture Sector
Trade Sector Award / Wholesale and Retail Sector
Services Sector Award / Financial & Business Services, Transport, Storage, Communication, Hospitality and Tourism Sector
Best New Business Award / For outstanding results achieved in creating a new business, less than three years in operation, and attaining quantifiable business outcomes
Most Innovative Award / For outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, a company possesses in pioneering new approaches and the ability to adapt and develop products and/ or professional services ahead of the market
Young Enterprise Award / For outstanding accomplishment made by a business Director and/ or Owner at the age of 30 or under
Africa SMME of the Year Award / The overall Africa SMME of the Year recipient will be selected from the winners of the categories shown above

The role of donors and stakeholders in the Africa SMME Awards

There are numerous roles that stakeholders could fulfil in promoting the awards:

  • A donor could sponsor a number or all of the awards if he/she/it so wishes,
  • Stakeholders could help the organisers in creating awareness amongst SMMEs of the awards by leveraging their networks throughout Africa. This includes
  • Displaying a link/banner to the Awards website
  • Distributing nomination-brochures to SMME that they are involved with.
  • By nominating SMMEs they feel would be eligible for any of the awards.
  • Distributing the information regarding the Awards to other SMME-stakeholders.
  • Stakeholders could nominate judges for the panel. These nominations will be considered as potential panel-members.

For sponsorship options and benefits, please contact Dina Potgieter @

The judging process and relevant dates

Nominations for the various awards will be inspected for eligibility, narrowed down to at most 10 entries in each category, and finally presented to an independent panel of judges.

Nomination plus required Information deadline: 30 June 2007

Announcement of finalists: 31 of August 2007

Awards Banquet: 25 October 2007

Contact Details

The Africa SMME AwardsThe Africa SMME Awards

Africagrowth ResearchAfricagrowth Research

PO Box 3628 13 Mispel Street

TygervalleyCorporate Place

7536Bellville, Cape Town

South Africa7535

South Africa

Tel: +27 21 945 4024

Fax: +27 21 946 1652

For further information, please contact : Dina Potgieter @