First South African SMME conference and SMME awards

In line with the Government's drive to support and profile the role that SMMEs play in promoting economic growth and job creation, South Africa's first SMME Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony will be held on 26 October 2006 at The Birchwood Executive Hotel, Johannesburg.

It is being organised by the Africagrowth Academy, in partnership with provincial governments, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Seda, major banks, SABC, print media, academic and private sector institutions and other enterprise support agencies.

The main aims and objectives are:

to showcase South Africa's successful SMMEs
to promote and highlight the role that SMMEs play in economic development
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", and
to help promote SMMEs Research

Deadline for submission of entry forms is 30 June 2006. For more information, go to www.africagrowth.com.