The ICT SMME Chamber and Seacom have partnered to advance small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) growth as a key driver of economic transformation and job creation.
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)marks a pivotal step in unlocking the full potential of SMMEs within South Africa’s ICT sector. The partnership is grounded in the Triple Helix Model of Engagement, fostering collaboration between government, the private sector, and civil society, serving as a key driver for inclusive growth and sustainable job creation.
Loyiso Tyira, Managing Director of the ICT SMME Chamber, emphasised that the true measure of success for this model will be seen a year from now, when stakeholders assess key outcomes such as revenue growth for SMMEs in the programme, graduation to generic enterprises, and the number of jobs created.
The ICT SMME Chamber is regarded as the champion of ICT SMMEs in South Africa, helping its members to thrive through advocacy, networking, access to market and enterprise development.
Tyira urged all partners to commit to ensuring that, by then, there will be a strong and compelling success story to tell. Tyira also thanked the Empire Partner Foundation, which, among other contributions, has developed a tool that tracks the efficacy of this programme, ensuring transparency and accountability for all stakeholders.
The Department of E-Government’s involvement marks a significant step toward organized and impactful SMME development in the province, laying the groundwork for long-term digital transformation.
The MoU sets the stage for a comprehensive capacity-building and market access programme, enabling SMMEs to expand their operations both locally and internationally, thereby strengthening their role in the global digital economy.
The ICT SMME Chamber is in advanced discussions with other multinational and local corporates, as well as government entities, to establish similar agreements that will further promote the growth of SMMEs. These partnerships are vital to equipping SMMEs with the tools, mentorship, and market access needed to thrive and contribute to sustained job creation.
The Triple Helix Model of Engagement is central to the Chamber’s strategy, ensuring that government, private sector, and civil society work together to empower SMMEs and drive innovation. Together, we can build an ecosystem where SMMEs are positioned as leaders in the digital economy and contributors to South Africa’s broader economic growth.
Seacom South Africa is a diversified ICT provider of scale, with presence in eight countries around the world that prides itself on its extensive undersea cable network and fibre grid, allowing its corporate clients to tap into exceptional digital connectivity and services.
“We are particularly pleased that this momentous step forward comes at the back of our successful engagement with various sectors of society in which the committee sought to bring together different role players to coalesce around a common vision. Our strategic orientation as a committee is to corral the relevant role players to work together to harness the greater economic opportunities provided by the digital economy,” said Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, Khusela Sangoni Diko,
She further said that the MOU means that the organised SMMEs within the ICT space will now benefit from SEACOM’s digital offerings, including cloud and connectivity on-premises networking, as well as network and cybersecurity solutions.
