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South African business chambers

South Africa's national, regional and local business associations, chambers and foundations all work to promote growth and investment, build new enterprises, forge stronger links between the country's businessmen and women - and make more money.

Business foundations

BusinessMap Foundation
The BusinessMap Foundation is a not-for-profit research organisation and think tank, focusing on the economic transformation of South Africa and the region. It produces information, backed up by extensive research, on political and investment issues in southern and South Africa.

Business Leadership Foundation
Business Leadership South Africa is an association of South Africa’s largest corporations and major multinational companies with a significant presence in South Africa. Members are committed to the national goals of high growth, greater employment, inclusivity and the reduction of poverty.

Gordon Institute of Business Science
Based at the University of Pretoria, the Gordon Institute of Business Science aims to significantly improve the competitive performance of individuals and organisations through business education, supplying a wide range of activities and programmes.

National business associations

Busa
The Black Business Council and Business SA merged in October 2003 to create Business Unity South Africa (Busa), the country's first properly unified business organisation. Busa is a confederation of SA chambers of commerce and industry, professional and corporate associations, and unisectoral employers' organisations. The body is the main representative of SA business, tackling macro-economic and high-level issues affecting it at national and international levels.

Chamsa
Launched in October 2003, the Chambers of Commerce and Industry South Africa (Chamsa) is the unified umbrella body of South Africa's four main national chambers: the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (AHI), the Foundation for African Business and Consumer Services (Fabcos), the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc), and the SA Chamber of Business (Sacob).

Sacob
The South African Chamber of Business (Sacob) is the country's largest business organisation, with a membership of close to 20 000 businesses, including 80 of the largest corporations in South Africa, and nearly 20 sector-specific business associations. Sacob addresses economic, social and political issues affecting the business community in South Africa. It also publishes the monthly Business Confidence Index.

Nafcoc
The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc) is an independent business support organisation that primarily, but not exclusively, serves the interests of black economic empowerment companies and small businesses.

Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut
The AHI is a multi-sectoral employers' organisation involved in most sectors of South Africa's economy.

Fabcos
The Foundation for African Business and Consumer Services (Fabcos), established in 1988, aims to bring black business into the mainstream economy. With nine regional organisations, administered by a secretariat in Johannesburg, its membership of more than 10 000 companies are largely micro-enterprises and businesses working in the informal sector.

Minara Chamber of Commerce
The Minara Chamber of Commerce represents and assists South African Muslim businesses and entrepreneurs. The constitution and workings are based on an adherence to an Islamic code of conduct and ethics.