Help is at hand for SMMEs - letter in Business Day

The May 29th election was another milestone for me - I was re-elected to Parliament as a Democratic Alliance MP.

More on that in a later blog post.

For now, I am reproducing a letter I wrote to Business Day which they kindly published today. It follows my appointment to the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition by DA Leader John Steenhuisen and our new Chief Whip, George Makalakis. 

It's a great opportunity to have a significant impact on SA's economic trajectory. With my colleague Mlondi Mdluli I will be working closely with Deputy Minister and DA MP Andrew Whitfield to put the DA case for necessary reforms as outlined in our economic policy.

Follow the link here or read it below.

Sir

Ian Ferguson makes an impassioned plea for formal political, organised labour and big business structures to understand the requirements of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) to start, survive and grow. (Ask small business owners about jobs, 4th July).

I have some good news for him. The DA has appointed a former Shadow Minister of Small Business Development (me) and a brilliant young economist, Mlondi Mdluli, to the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition. We will engage the DTIC, organised labour, big business and other ministries in the economic cluster to encourage a conducive environment for the entire economy to thrive, including SMMEs.

The DA's economic policy document, released in April, has a laser focus on growing the economy, unleashing enterprise and creating jobs. We will lobby for the implementation thereof in the interest of small businesses and job creation. No longer will the voices of SMMEs be lost in the wilderness.

Yours
Toby Chance DA MP