Business Partners Limited outlook for SMEs in 2017 From a small and medium enterprises (SME) perspective, the current economic environment is more conducive to growth and opportunity than it was a year ago. This is according to Ben Bierman, Managing Director of Business Partners Limited (BUSINESS/PARTNERS) , a specialist risk finance company for formal SMEs. “2016 saw a shift in terms of global politics and economic issues, specifically in South Africa, which brought about stronger cooperation between the private sector, government and civil society to better foster and increase the success of SMEs in 2017.” In the year ahead SMEs can expect better economic growth, inflation that will not be as severely impacted by rising food costs and an interest rate environment that will at worst not show dramatic increases in the prime rate, says Bierman. “These improved conditions should provide a more solid platform for local SMEs to grow and pursue their objectives in their respective sectors...