Tag Archives: SMEs

Why African Entrepreneurs Embrace Business Education (Forbes)

Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of economic progress, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) making up 90% of all businesses. These SMEs are more than just companies; they are the engines of job creation, contributing “up to 40% of national income (GDP) in emerging economies.” However, a closer look reveals a gap. Many of these enterprises begin their […]
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TymeBank and iKhokha team up for SMEs

The ability for small businesses to accept payments on a smartphone has been revolutionary for businesses of all sizes. Tap-on-phone technology, although in its early days, has the potential to play a key transformative role in driving financial inclusion throughout Africa. Now South Africa’s biggest digital bank, TymeBank, has announced it will move its Tap-on-Phone customers […]
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Sky’s the limit for Africa’s female entrepreneurs (AB)

Women entrepreneurs dominate Africa’s SME sector, despite a gender pay gap and the lack of access to finance that women face. However, ongoing initiatives are changing the scenario and empowering women to even greater heights. Wide-reaching economic research conclusively reveals the high return on investing in opportunities for women in Africa.  The UN for example […]
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New GIBS faculty research outputs

Since the beginning of 2023, a number of research articles have been published by our faculty and research associates. Below, a selection of these publications The impact of remuneration governance on chief executive officer overpayment by Mark Bussin, Albert Wocke and Benno Deysel. South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences, 26(1), 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v26i1.4860 BACKGROUND: […]
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Huawei South Africa to invest $5.8-million in SMEs as part of new cloud plans (ITNA)

Huawei South Africa has announced that its third data centre availability zone is set to go live three years ahead of schedule, as well as its $5.8-million (R100-million) Cloud Spark programme, which is set to provide support to more than 1000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) over the next three years. Both of these announcements […]
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New GIBS article: The potential of crowdfunding to promote business in the context of an emerging economy by Alet Erasmus, Geoffrey Tocknell and Flip Schutte

Crowdfunding has the potential to change the historic standards of the financial services industry and reduce gaps between supply and demand economics. Over the past ten years, it has received increasing attention. However, the potential that crowdfunding holds in less fortunate economic contexts where SMEs are probably needed the most has not yet attracted the attention that it deserves. Acknowledging the influence of knowledge […]
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The impact of COVID-19 on SME financing: A special edition of the OECD financing SMEs and enterpreneurs scoreboard (OECD)

The OECD has just published the report “The impact of COVID-19 on SME financing: A special edition of the OECD Financing SMEs and Entrepreneurs Scoreboard.” The COVID-19 crisis has had a profound impact on SME access to finance. In particular, the sudden drop in revenues created acute liquidity shortages, threatening the survival of many viable businesses. The […]
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International compedium of entrepreneurship policies (OECD)

The OECD has just published: “International Compendium of Entrepreneurship Policies.”  It is increasingly understood that entrepreneurship plays a critical role in economic growth and well-being. But which policies can governments develop to release its benefits? This publication offers guidance and inspiration.  It identifies the range of entrepreneurship policies being pursued internationally, the problems the policies seek to […]
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Enhancing equal access to opportunities for all in G20 countries (OECD)

Over recent years, globalisation, digitalisation, demographics and climate change have been transforming the way economies work. These trends have provided new opportunities for growth, but also deepened inequalities as the gains from growth have not been shared evenly amongst all. The COVID-19 pandemic – a global public health crisis without precedent in living memory – is resulting […]
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SMEs can fill African gap

Africa’s growth potential coupled with its burgeoning middle class will provide African SMEs with many opportunities, says Charles Brewer. GIBS Information Centre / GIBSIC‘s insight: SMEs See on business.iafrica.com