Border-Kei Chamber of Business

Voice of Business

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Founded in 1877, the Border-Kei Chamber of Business (BKCOB) is the recognised “Voice of Business” in the Border-Kei region. Headquartered in East London in the Buffalo City Metropolitan municipality, with a satellite branch in Komani, Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, the Border-Kei Chamber of Business is a not-for-profit, A-political, A-religious, membership-based organisation, representing a wide array of businesses in the private sector, academic institutions, public enterprises as well as the NGO sector.

At a national level, the Border-Kei Chamber of Business is a member of the Association of South African Chambers (ASAC), a national lobby body, that focuses on and addresses matters of national economic importance.

The BKCOB has five specific mandates, namely: – Investor attraction, investor retention, stimulating the economy, business support services and business recognition, through our Annual Business Awards programme. As the voice of business, the BKCOB also advocates for the creation of an efficient and sustainable enabling environment, with the local and provincial authorities.

The Border-Kei Chamber of Business also creates a platform for businesses to network, build new business relationships, maintain existing ones, facilitate strategic conversations, make deals and transact and is a platform where members can connect to like-minded individuals outside of their normal circle of influence. The BKCOB continues to support local municipalities in our region, to create towns and cities that attract and retain Investors and where every citizen aspires to live, work and play in.

Membership to the Border-Kei Chamber of Business is open to any registered business or organisation, running ethically compliant operations, from sole proprietors to large multi-nationals public and private sector Companies.

We invite all businesses to become members of the Border-Kei Chamber of Business and to partner with us to ensure that we fulfil the above mandate effectively and efficiently. This will ensure that we, together, create an enabling environment for all businesses to thrive in, so that jobs are created and poverty is eradicated.

WHY JOIN THE CHAMBER

Membership Benefits

Raise your company profile, and boost your Company status in the Border-Kei Region.
Tax-deductible membership and event fees.
Excellent networking opportunities with like-minded business owners outside of your normal circle of influence.
Marketing Opportunities at various Chamber events and on digital platforms. (T’s & C’s apply)
The Opportunity to “give back” by joining our Chamber Committees who meet on a monthly basis to facilitate the change we want to see in our region.
The Opportunity to Mentor and be mentored.
Access to information on a wide range of topics from funding opportunities to the latest legislative industry trends and changes, etc.
The Opportunity to build and grow your Social Capital.
The Opportunity to gain access to new markets.
The Opportunity to write an article or to be featured in our Quarterly Chamber magazine – the Business Hi-lite.
Letters of support/ good standing to members trying to access Government tenders.
Reduced rates for Certificates of origin to exporting members.
Municipal Billing Help Desk.
The opportunity to grow personally and professionally, through personal and professional workshops.
Small Business Support for growing businesses.
Corporate departmental support, e.g. HR Forum.
The opportunity to place your CSI spend with trained & vetted NGO’s.
The opportunity to stay abreast of any topical issues or opportunities, through our weekly “Chamber Opportunities and updates” newsletter.

Services

Trade & Information

We provide a comprehensive service to all members pertaining to business, including assistance with import and export, as well as trade leads.

Letters of Support

We provide letters of support to members wishing to access government tenders, including letters of introduction to Chambers, locally and globally for members attempting to expand their business abroad.

Website

All members details are available on our membership online directory available on our website, where members are entitled to link from the Chambers website to theirs. Members had to sign a form in compliance with the POPIA act.

Committees

The Chamber has a robust and effective committee system to facilitate members participation, growth and development and to enable us to fulfil our role as the “Voice of Business”.

Seminars & Workshops

A variety of seminars and workshops are offered by the chamber to provide information sharing as well as personal and professional training.

Business Support Services

The Chamber serves on several committees and fora. It works with other organisations where the Border-Kei chamber believes strongly in business unity and the transformation of the South African economy.

What support can the Chamber offer your business?

Employee development
Training in international trade
Direct assistance on business challenges
Export/import support and advice
Assistance with employee matters
Information on business regulations & amendments
Policy, lobbying and advocacy
CSI database and advice
Access to markets
Business-2-Business support and connections.

SME EXPORT SERVICES

What is a CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN and when do I need one?

A Certificate of Origin is a certified document that states what the country of origin is of a specific product. As the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) states, ‘it declares the ‘nationality’ of your product. Certificates of Origin are one-time documents that accompany your shipments. The Border-Kei chamber of business provides export business services to members and non-members!

What accompanies a certificate of origin?

An Original Invoice
Packaging list stating the consignment

What Determines the Country of Origin?

The country of origin is determined by:

Where the product originates from.
The production process and where the production process takes place.
What parts or ingredients are in your product.
We have member and non-member rates.
The Border-Kei Chamber of Business processes Certificates of origin for the SADC region and internationally.
We provide export & Import support/advice and training in international trade.