London is home to a host of bilateral chambers – that is, chambers of commerce which promote trade, investment and business relationships between two specific countries
Many are members of the Council of Foreign Chambers in the UK, an umbrella body set up in 2020 to look after such chambers’ interests.
In this new LBM regular feature, we turn the spotlight on a key bilateral chamber operating from the UK capital.
South African Chamber of Commerce (UK) Limited was established in 2006. It was originally formed under the name SA Commerce Limited with the aim of consolidating South African business-focused organisations operating in the UK.
In 2008, it rebranded to reflect its broader mission of fostering bilateral trade and investment between South Africa and the UK.
Vibrant
Key in its early history was the SA Business Club, which laid the foundation for the SACC UK’s community-building ethos. The club was a vibrant network of professionals and entrepreneurs with ties to South Africa, offering regular networking events, speaker sessions and informal gatherings. It helped establish a strong base of members and supporters, many of whom remain active in the Chamber today.
SACC UK has received formal endorsement from the South African government and the South African High Commissioner in London. It enjoys support from both the SA Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and UK Department of Business and Trade.
The chamber boasts a wide range of members who include Barclays, Investec, Anglo, Simmons and Simmons, and the Isle of Man government.
Services
Under chief executive Svend Littauer. SACC UK offers a wide range of services to its members, including:
Business networking and introductions
Trade missions and delegations
Policy advocacy and government engagement
Events, in person or online, curated to highlight members and connect to the wider network
Special interest sections (‘chapters’) covering wealth creation, alumni, regional UK and SA) and young professionals.
Global networking
Recent highlights in the programme include a reception at Laytons law firm in the City of London, Ubuntu, global networking webinars, a House of Lords dinner, and the launch of Let not the sun set on you: the journey from anti-apartheid activist to seasoned diplomat, the autobiography of Kingsley Mamabolo, the current South African High Commission in the UK.
Impressive
The chamber attracts an impressive array of speakers at its events. These include South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Lord Peter Hain, politician Helen Zille, poet and academic Dr Athol Williams and Dr Anthony Costa, chair of B20 South Africa, the G20’s official private sector engagement group. Costa is the man of the moment as this month (November) South Africa is hosting the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, marking the first time the event has been held on the African continent. This follows the year of the country’s presidency of the group during which the main issues addressed were digital development, debt issues, climate finance and sustainable development.
www.southafricanchamber.uk
www.cfcc.uk
