Minister Meyer engaging with SMME’s

Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMME) contribute an estimated 50% to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product and is a major job creator in the Western Cape. Finance Minister, dr Ivan Meyer, recently engaged with the management of one of these businesses to discuss the challenges SMME’s faced during tough financial times.

ATN Group, was established in August 2006 by Theresa Cupido, CEO and Owner and is a wholly black owned company. The company was selected by Martin & East in 2007, to form part of their Enterprise Development Programme for emerging contractors. ATN Group’s successful participation in this programme has accelerated the growth of the company. With over 100 years combined expertise and respective skills in the Road marking and Civil engineering field, ATN Group have undertaken a number of projects for the Department of Transport, City of Cape Town, various of municipalities, Civil engineers and large property companies.

Some of the major concerns raised was the recent economic downturn, unemployment. Tender qualification criteria and the challenges SMME’s have in securing tenders against larger companies. ATN Group CEO, Theresa Cupido also praised the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works for a brilliant mentoring initiative aimed at SMME’s to secure major contracts.