The SmartXchange 2017 SMME Awards took place at the Coastlands on the Ridge hotel on 21 November 2017. This prestigious event saw the attendance of dignitaries whom included the eThekwini Municipality ex-speaker, councillor Logie Naidoo; Councillor Nkosenhle Madlala who represented the eThekwini Mayor; Port Shepstone Mayor, her worship councillor Cynthia Mqwebu and CEO of SA SME Fund, Mr Quinton Dicks who served as the keynote speaker to the event.

It was heart-warming to hear that the SA SME Fund, as described by Mr Dicks, shares and delivers on a similar mandate to SmartXchange which is SMME focused. Quinton shared with the audience that amongst the different funding programmes that exist at SA SME Fund, much focus is given to funding fast growth companies so as to fill the economic gap. However, with this focus comes the responsibility of having to provide extensive support towards funding managers which will enable them to be value add drivers and this task is their current strategic engagement at SA SME Fund.

Mr Dicks was impressed with the work that SmartXchange has done in SMME development and echoed Mayor Mqwebu and Councillor Nkosenhle’s congratulatory remarks to the SMME’s and the SmartXchange management.

The SmartXchange CEO, Mr Jonathan Naidoo was ever so proud to announce this year’s SMME graduates and briefly shared about their journey in the SmartXchange Incubator. The graduates were Aproface, IT Master, KJT Information Technologies, Mshazi Photographers and DI Info Systems.

The highlight of the evening was the honouring of the SMME Award winners with recognition and appreciation that was given to the event prize sponsors Mustek, 3C Technologies, Keyline, Liquid Telecoms, Centre for Fine Arts and Animation, IT Master and Astel Consulting. The Award winners were, Kasi Brothers as winner under SMME of the year category with Msalwa Productions as runner up, Madlokovu Business as winner under Best Newcomer category with FocalSoft as runner up, and Mshazi Photographers and Events Production as winner under Best Performing Women in MICTe with SMME News as runner up.

The SmartXchange Awards event aims to showcase and further encourage the commendable work and business growth of the SMME’s and this is exactly what this night reflected along with the unflinching support of both government and private sector.