The South African Chamber of Commerce & Industry "The Voice of Business"

With wide-ranging changes taking place in South Africa, as well as internationally, business people will find it more difficult to operate in isolation and ensure survival. The chamber movement represented by the South African Chamber of Business (SACCI) and its almost 50 constituent chambers is a lifeline for business people.

The chamber movement addresses all the economic, social and political issues affecting the business community in one way or another. The chamber movement is apolitical. It is “the voice of business” and it ensures that this voice is heard where it matters – where it is necessary to protect the interests of business, at local, regional and national levels.

 

Why a Chamber of Commerce and Industry?

SACCI and its chambers play an important part in the decision-making process in this country. No individual business should allow itself to be left out of this involvement. No business should deprive itself to the advantages to be gained, nationally and internationally, from membership of the chamber movement.

What can business persons gain from the chamber movement?

SACCI is the largest business organisation in the country. Through its constituent chambers, it has a total membership of close to 20 000 businesses, most of them small and medium-sized. Some 80 of the largest business corporations in South Africa are direct members of SACCI, while nearly 20 national associations are affiliated members. These associations represent the interests of specific sectors of the economy.

SACCI is also represented on several external bodies, where valuable contributions are made to decision-making in a specified field. SACCI is represented on a number of government bodies, which further enhances the status of the chamber movement as the voice of business in South Africa. Furthermore SACCI is represented on regional bodies such as the Association of SADC Chambers of Commerce and Industry and working groups linked to the SADC Protocols.

SACCI has signed co-operation agreements with many national chambers of commerce and industry worldwide.

This all adds up to a formidable network of business contacts and widespread opportunities to share knowledge and experiences.