The two-day symposium provided entrepreneurs with an opportunity to learn from and connect with sector practitioners and key stakeholders worldwide, while also providing strategic direction to the Cooperative Banking Institution sector and its support structures. The department coined the theme "Cooperatives Build a Better World" to accelerate service delivery to MSMEs, micro-enterprises and young, up-and-coming businesses.

Discussions centered on better understanding the dynamic nature of the sector in the South African economy, global geo-economic dynamics, and systematic obstacles to small business growth, presenting policy options to scale up support to the MSME ecosystem. The cooperatives movement aims to build on last year's foundation by advocating for a cooperative banking sector that is integral to local economic development, adaptable to new challenges and opportunities in a rapidly changing economy.

The DSBD is committed to transformation, economic inclusion, and strengthening the entrepreneurship ecosystem through partnerships with relevant stakeholders to pursue a growing, sustainable small business sector.