Durban hosts world's Chambers
21 June 2005
Nearly 1 000 business people from more than 100 countries will be making their way to Durban later this month for the biggest gathering of chambers of commerce to take place this year, the 4th World Chambers Congress.
Delegates will be welcomed to the conference by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelethini, with President Thabo Mbeki addressing the Congress on 21 June. The Congress runs for three days until 22 June.
Other South Africans that will address the congress include Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Maphlwa, Eskom chair Reuel Khoza and Patrice Motsepe from African Rainbow Minerals. Motsepe is also the president of Business Unity South Africa and the Chambers of Commerce South Africa.
Topics to be covered at the three-day conference include the role of business institutions in both governance and the rebuilding of economies; chamber branding; public and private sector partnerships; women in chambers of commerce; the HIV/Aids challenge; the
environment; and business diversity.
The organisers hope that holding the conference in Africa will enable chambers from developing countries in the region to attend, opening the door for partnerships with chambers from industrialised countries.
Since the first World Chambers Congress was held in Marseilles in 1999, the biennial World Chambers Congress has quickly established itself as the place where chambers of commerce from around the world come together to share best practices and develop networks.
According to chair of the World Chambers Federation, Avijit Mazumdar, the Congress more than lives up to its reputation.
"Since its inception six years ago, the World Chambers Congress has moved from strength to strength, attracting a consistently high calibre of speakers and more and more delegates each time," Mazumdar said.
"There is no other global forum of this magnitude and scope available to chambers, which is why it is seen as the premier meeting
of its kind."
The Congress will also provide the stage for the finals of the 2005 World Chambers Competition, designed to bring international recognition to local chambers, to foster the continued pursuit of excellence, and to encourage the exchange of information and business development among chambers.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
| 
