Chamber helps businesses and the community grow
The real objective of the EGCCI is to grow our regional economy by attracting business to the region.
Since the formation of the Springs Chamber of Commerce in 1917, it has grown to incorporate other areas of interest, including Nigel, Brakpan and Kwatsaduza.
The name of the chamber has also changed to the Eastern Gauteng Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EGCCI) to be more reflective of the companies and areas they represent.
The Advertiser spoke to the EGCCI president Mike du Toit about their function and objectives.
What is EGCCI’s purpose or objective?
The real objective of the EGCCI is to grow our regional economy by attracting business to the region.
It is essential to focus on ensuring that we have an environment that is conducive to business and therefore attracts investment.
For this reason, we find ourselves very focused on service delivery these days. Business does not invest where the electricity and water supply are erratic.
The EGCCI also acts as the voice of business, especially in terms of communicating with the local, regional and national government.
What does the EGCCI actually do for its members?
Because the EGCCI has lines of communication with the local and regional government it can help you with your service delivery problems as well as keep you informed about what’s being done to resolve these problems.
The more businesses that are members, the more feedback the EGCCI enjoys about problems as well as having more influence due to the numbers that it represents. The EGCCI does not act in isolation and is part of an international group of chambers of commerce and in South Africa, we are part of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI).
That in turn is part of Business Unity South Africa or as it is better known as BUSA. These organisations identify, collate and articulate efforts to challenge legislation.
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So, in effect, it is really just a lobbying organisation?
Well, yes and no. The EGCCI offers other services but the focus is always on business and the business environment.
For example, there are specific services like certification of documents for FICA purposes, the publication of a regional business directory every two years, letters of introduction for trading and the issuing of certificates of origin for exports.
This last activity is done by only the Chambers of Commerce throughout the world. So if you are an exporter you should be a member of the chamber of commerce.
We also provide details on economic reports around the SACCI business confidence index. We keep you informed about past and pending legislation affecting business and also run several forums of which two are related to service delivery.
One of them is the Business Against Crime Forum with the SAPS and EMPD.
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We are also represented on the Springs CPF executive. Other forums include health, wellness and safety and also the environment.
Most people think of EGCCI as a networking organisation for creating business opportunities. Is that correct?
It is not the primary function of the EGCCI but we do try to run functions to help people network as well as showcase their business.
Our AGM is an opportunity for people to interact with other business leaders. We also organise business breakfasts and factory tours (industry visits) to our larger member establishments.
We also host an annual golf day that is very popular and well supported by our members. These events are of course sometimes serve as fund-raisers but all of them offer opportunities to meet and network with other business people in our region.
The President’s Award Banquet, held every second year, is an opportunity to recognise member businesses for outstanding achievements toward social development as well as recognising individuals, not necessarily members, for outstanding social development projects as well as sports achievements.
Does the chamber do anything for the general community?
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It should be remembered that the objective of growing businesses and the regional economy is the way that jobs are created and creating jobs is the most important thing that we can do for our communities.
However, creating the right environment to get the economy going involves fighting for better service delivery and encouraging an improvement to our environment.
We have had major inputs promoting the town’s art deco buildings as an asset and giving our inputs in this regard to the Ekurhuleni City Planning Department, as well as being involved in supporting projects such as Springs Clean, The Grootvaly Blesbokspruit Trust, the improvements to George Sutter Park and The Windmill Park, many of which, unfortunately, have gone backwards during the pandemic lockdown.
However, we will need to resuscitate all these programmes as soon as we can if we are to prevent the collapse of our region.
Do you have anything else you would like to say in closing?
I would just like to invite all businesses in Springs, Brakpan and Nigel to join us and help us in the fight to get our towns and regions to be a “favoured business destination” again.
It is easy and affordable for small, medium and large businesses to become a member of the EGCCI.
Contact our office on 011 815 5750/1/2 to enquire what it entails to become a member.
Finally, we have an organisation associated with the Chamber called the Business Linkage Center that works with start-up businesses and entrepreneurs.
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