Working Paper 8/2019 BLACK INDUSTRIALISTS, BARRIERS TO ENTRY, AND APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS Teboho Bosiu, Grace Nsomba, and Thando Vilakazi April 2019 Abstract This paper provides a high level review of the design and objectives of the BIS based on publically available information and insights gathered through interviews with DTI and other organisations providing business support initiatives. The assessment considers the complementarity between BIS and other initiatives and agencies, the selection criteria of potential beneficiaries, the core economic and ownership criteria applied for selection of beneficiaries, the funding model and links to other DFIs and issues in non-financial support since the inception of the programme. Drawing from the detailed interviews with the DTI, Industrial Development Corporation and other stakeholders involved in providing support for SMEs, as well as publically available information, the paper identifies key challenges for businesses relating to access to working capital, the complexity and duration of application, approval and disbursement processes, and coordination issues within the co-funding model. This paper forms the basis for a second paper assessing survey data on the outcomes and performance of the BIS. JEL classification: L60, O25 Keywords: black industrialists, funding, working capital, access to markets