DOEL VAN DIE SAKEKAMER

ONS IS DAAR OM JOU EN JOU BESIGHEID TE ONDERSTEUN!

Ons Gedragskode

• Ons bedryf ons besighede onpartydig , sonder vrees of guns, sonder om onregverdige voorkeur te verleen aan, of te diskrimineer teen, enige godsdienstige groepering, kultuur, verkose leefstyl, politieke affiliasie, ouderdom, ras of geslagsoriëntasie en sal onder geen omstandighede toelaat dat stereotipering van mense die grondslag van ons gedrag domineer nie.  Daarom sal ons inklusief saamwerk met enige burgerlike organisasie wat hulle ten doel stel om beter ekonomiese uitkomste vir almal in SA te beding.
• Ons glo in en onderskryf die beginsel van vry en regverdige kompetisie in ‘n kapitalistiese ekonomie.
• Ten einde te verseker dat die Drakenstein Sakekamer waardevol en voordelig vir ons lede en kliënte bly, sal ons voortdurend die nuutste tegnologiese innovasies, óf kennis en toepassings van sulke tegnologië, nastreef en tot die beste van ons vermoë benut, tot voordeel van ons lede, hul organisasies en die breër Drakenstein-gemeenskap.
• Om kontinuïteit te verseker, sal ons voortdurend hoë kwaliteit en internasionale beste besigheidspraktyke toepas. Dit sal die Kamer vestig as ‘n geloofwaardige nie-winsgewende organisasie wat tot voordeel van ons lede en hul organisasies werk.
• Ons sal altyd daarna streef om die morele hoë grond te handhaaf en met integriteit op te tree gedurende interaksies en besigheidstransaksies met medelede en kliënte. Ons sal nooit middelmatigheid beloon of deelneem aan korrupte praktyke nie.
• Ons woord en ‘n handskud om ‘n saketransaksie te beklink, sal altyd net so sterk en afdwingbaar wees soos ‘n geskrewe ooreenkoms.
• As lede sal ons positiewe eienskappe by mekaar soek en versterk deur wederkerigheid, inklusiwiteit en ‘n omgee-houding.
• Ons sal ons sosiale verantwoordelikheid in die gemeenskap uitleef deur deel te neem aan verdienstelike gemeenskapsprojekte sover dit binne ons finansiële vermoëns is.
• Ons sal verantwoordelike burgerskap nastreef deur sinvol en respekvol by plaaslike regering betrokke te raak om sake van gemeenskaplike belang effektief aan te spreek.

VERENIG, ADVISEER en BEMAGTIG

Oorsprong en Geskiedenis

Die wêreld se eerste Sakekamer is in 1599 in Marseille Frankryk gestig.  Die oudste Engelsprekende Sakekamer is in New York gestig in 1768.

Die visie, doel en strategieë van sakekamers het oor honderde jare nog nooit verander nie en werk sakekamers wȇreldwyd steeds vir die bevordering van hul lede se belange asook skakeling met regeringsowerhede oor sake van gemeenskaplike belang.   Sien:    https://www.chamber.nyc/ en  https://www.unizo.be/ vir meer inligting.

‘n Voorbeeld van ‘n suksesvolle vroeë sakegroepering was die Hanse Liga wat uit Noord-Duitsland geopereer het om dorpe se handelsgemeenskappe en ekonomiese belange te beskerm en te verteenwoordig.  Die Liga het kommersiële aktiwiteite in Noord-Europa vanaf die 13de tot die 16de eeu gedomineer en het oor ‘n tydperk van 400 jaar gedy.  Vir interessante inligting hieroor kyk gerus na: https://www.hanse.org/en/

Die Drakenstein Sakekamer het ‘n trotse geskiedenis van diens aan sy sakelede en was oorspronklik op 12 Junie 1947 gestig as deel van ‘n breër ekonomiese reddingsaksie van die destydse Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (AHI), wat in 1942 gestig was.  Die doel van die AHI was om Afrikaners wat deur oorloë en die depressie van 1933 hopeloos verarm en finansieël ontmagtig was, se kapitaal te mobiliseer om groter ekonomiese insluiting en werksgeleenthede te bewerkstellig.  Sien www.myahi.co.za vir meer inligting.  Vandag is daar weer identiese massiewe uitdagings in die SA ekonomie en benodig ons werkskepping en ekonomiese geleenthede oor ‘n wye front om die land van ondergang te help red.

Die oorspronklike naam was Paarl, Wellington, Franschoek Afrikaanse Sakekamer wat gedurende 2014 verander is na die huidige vorm om meer verteenwoordigend van die nuwe Drakenstein dorpsgrense na 1994 te wees.

Gedurende Augustus 2023 is die Sakekamer omvorm tot ‘n NPC (nie-winsgewende maatskappy) om ons groeiende aantal lede gemoedsrus te gee dat hul ledefooie deursigtig bestuur word en om te voldoen aan die nuutste SA wetgewing i.v.m maatskappye en openbare organisasies.

Groeivooruitsigte

Die Drakenstein Sakekamer het vandag +-240 lede komende uit diverse geledere wat insluit vervaardiging, professionele dienste, sake-afrigters, regslui, ouditeure, rekenmeesters, landbou, medici, dienste organisasies, weslsynsorganisasies en akademiese instansies wat ons relevant en veerkragtig maak om ons lede te kan dien.

Daar word gereeld ‘n verskeidenheid van netwerkgeleenthede aangebied om ons lede in te lig oor sakeverwante inligting en te bemagtig met finansiële kennis asook om onderlinge sakegeleenthede te bevorder.

Sakekamers in die VSA en Europa het tussen 30 000 en 60 000 lede met gevolglike skaalvoordele aan lede wat die Sakekamers in staat stel om professioneel en op groot skaal te opereer.

Ons het ‘n unieke uitdaging met die +-1500 geregistreerde kommersiële en landbou besighede in

Drakenstein, van wie ongeveer 240 lede van die Sakekamer is, wat in lyn is met tendense in die VSA en Europa waar ook +-10% van besighede lede van hul sakekamers is, wat ons plaaslik met ‘n opwindende uitdaging laat om baie meer lede te kan werf en daardeur ook skaalvoordele te kan meebring vir ons plaaslike sakemanne en die gemeenskap.

Visie

Die Sakekamer is ‘n vrywillige assosiasie van onafhanklike ondernemers, sonder winsbejag, en ons visie is om suksesvolle netwerke te bou wat sakegeleenthede vir ons lede kan verseker.

Missie

Sakekamer lidmaatskap bied aan selfstandige ondernemings in Stad Drakenstein ‘n strategiese geleentheid om hul besighede intyds te laat groei deur die verkryging van tersaaklike inligting, voorligting en deur ‘n verenigde stem vir besigheidsake van gemeenskaplike belang te wees, met ‘n fokus op die volgende prioriteite:

• Besigheidsontwikkeling en voorspraak vir lede op belangrike forums
• Plaaslike verbruikers en gemeenskap
• Effektiewe plaaslike regeringsverhouding
• Sosiale verantwoordelikheid

Strategie

Om ons lede se produkte en dienste effektief te kan bevorder word die volgende inisiatiewe en aksies gereeld van stapel gestuur en onderhou:

• Netwerk geleenthede – ons bied ongeveer 25 geleenthede per jaar aan oor ‘n spektrum van informele sakekoffie byeenkomste, werksessies vir entrepreneurs, sakeontbyte, formele tema gala aande asook gefokusde lede aande met bekende sake leiers en gerekende akademici as sprekers. Lede het ‘n keuse van aktuele onderwerpe wat vir besluitnemers en sake eienaars ontwikkelingsgeleenthede kan bied
• Bou jou eie profiel op ons sakegids in die Sakekamer webblad
• Ledeverwysings vir nuwe besigheid
• Daaglikse e-pos blitse oor relevante sakenuus en produk promosies na lede op ons databasis
• Voorkeur aankope vanaf lede vir produkte en dienste
• Lidmaatskap teken vir u winkel of kantoor (onder ontwikkeling)
• Reg om lidmaatskap op e-posse aan te dui
• Die reg om die Sakekamer se logo op u eie webwerf te gebruik
• Gesamentlike verkoops promosies
• Beskermheer en gemeenskapsvennootskappe om op hoogte van gebeure en geleenthede in die gemeenskap te bly
• Netwerkgeleenthede en deel van sakekennis en inligting
• Borgskappe vir bemarking en verdienstelike projekte ter wille van sosiale verantwoordelikheid
• Voorspraak vir lede oor nuwe projekte in die gemeenskap
• Ons belyn ons met die nuutste digitale tegnologië om aan te pas by die veranderende globale ekonomiese realiteite
• Geniet erkenning as ‘n geakkrediteerde lid van ‘n betroubare sake groepering deur jou assosiasie met die Sakekamer
• Bereik skaalvoordele a.g.v sinergie wat vrygestel word met verhoogde blootstelling en kennis wat in die kollektiewe omgewing van die Sakekamer beskikbaar is
• 24/7 Sakekamer hulplyn
• Ledegelde 100% aftrekbaar van inkomste aangesien dit ‘n noodsaaklike besigheidsdiens is

Ons Internasionale Voetspoor

• Internasionale kontakte en kennis deur ons assosiasies met verskeie sake formasies in die VSA en Europa
• Geleenthede vir die bywoon van internasionale handeskoue en kontak met delegasies by konsulate

Eksterne Fokus

• Hulp met invoer en uitvoer dokumentasie (Sertifikate van Oorsprong)
• Direkte inspraak en onderhandeling met plaaslike regering
• Direkte inspraak en onderhandeling met Provinsiale en Nasionale regering waar nodig
• Affiliasies met ander industrie groeperings soos Landbou, Vervaardiging, Akademia en Veiligheidsinstansies
• Besigheidsontwikkeling: Navorsing en versameling van inligting oor verskeie aspekte van besigheid en voorspraak vir lede by nuwe projekte en geleenthede
• Spesialisforums binne die Sakekamer soos bv. Forum Grootmaat Dienste Verbruikers en ‘n Nyweraarsforum wat kollektief en pro-aktief met verskaffers onderhandel oor diense en tariewe

Vir meer besonderhede besoek gerus ons webwerf by: https//www.drakensteinsakekamer.co.za

PURPOSE OF A BUSINESS CHAMBER

WE SERVE YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS!

Our Code of Conduct

• We are committed to conducting our business in a fair and inclusive manner, without any prejudice or discrimination towards individuals or groups based on their religious beliefs, cultural background, lifestyle choices, political affiliations, language, age, race, or gender orientation. We will actively work to ensure that stereotyping does not influence our actions or preferences, and instead, we will strive to engage with all stakeholders in an open and unbiased way. In line with this inclusive approach, we will work collaboratively with any civil society organizations that aim to negotiate better economic outcomes for everyone in South Africa,
• We believe in and subscribe to the principles of free and fair competition in a capitalist economy.
• To ensure the Drakenstein Business Chamber remains valuable and beneficial to our members and customers, we will constantly pursue and utilize to the best of our ability the latest technological innovations, or knowledge and applications of such technologies, for the benefit of our members, their organizations and the wider Drakenstein community.
• To ensure continuity, we will constantly apply high-quality global best business practices. This will establish the Chamber as a credible non-profit organization, working for the benefit of our members and their organizations.
• We will always strive to maintain the moral high ground and act with integrity in our interactions with members and customers. We will not engage in or reward corruption or mediocrity.
• Our word and handshake will always be as strong and enforceable as any written contract when closing business deals.
• As members, we will seek out and reinforce positive traits in each other through reciprocity, inclusivity and a caring attitude.
• Within our financial means, we will fulfil our social responsibility by participating in worthy community projects.
• We will pursue responsible citizenship by engaging meaningfully and respectfully with local government to effectively address matters of common interest.

UNITE, ADVISE and EMPOWER

Origin and History

The world’s first official Business Chamber was established in Marseille France during 1599, and the oldest English-speaking Business Chamber was established in New York during 1768.

The vision, purpose and strategies of Business Chambers globally are aligned and have not changed over hundreds of years and they are all still working unabated to promote the interests of their members whilst also maintaining a working relationship with local authorities.  To see how chambers operate in other parts of the world please visit the following websites: https://www.chamber.nyc/ and  https://www.unizo.be/

An example of earlier business groupings that enabled their members to successfully conduct commercial activities over regional boundaries is the Hanse League that dominated commercial activities in Northern Europe from the 13^th to the 16^th century.  For some insight into their activities please visit their website at: https://www.hanse.org/en/

The Drakenstein Business Chamber has a proud history of service to its members and was established on 12 June 1947 as a broader movement of the AHi that was established in 1942.  The purpose of the AHI was to mobilize Afrikaner capital to empower them with bigger economic inclusion and creation of much needed job opportunities.  See www.myahi.co.za  for more information.  At this stage, the Afrikaner was hopelessly impoverished by the Anglo Boer War, WW1, WW2 and the great depression of 1933.

The Drakenstein Business Chamber’s original name was “Paarl, Wellington, Franschoek Afrikaanse Sakekamer” that was changed during 2014 to become more representative of the new post 1994 district municipal borders that included Paarl, Wellington, Hermon, Gouda, Saron and Simondium.

During August 2023 the Drakenstein Business Chamber was registered as a NPC (non profit company) to ensure that our growing membership base feel comfortable  that their member fees are spent in a transparent manner and comply with the latest SA commercial  laws governing organizations and companies.

Today Drakenstein Business Chamber has 240 active members from diverse business groupings that include, manufacturing, professional services like lawyers and medical specialists, financial services, auditing, service industry, construction, agriculture, business coaching, charities and academic institutions that makes us relevant and resilient to serve our members effectively.

Drakenstein Business Chamber has established proven protocols and operating procedures to present its members with networking events and seminars that is designed to empower them with the latest technology trends, business best practise and opportunities to develop their organizations to the next level of profitability and sophistication.

Growth Potential

Business Chambers in the USA and Europe have between 30 000 and 60 000 members with superior benefits of scale available to serve members.  The Drakenstein Business Chamber has the potential to grow exponentially with 2385 businesses as potential members in the City of Drakenstein.

Our current +-240 strong member base is representative of world trends but If we can manage to recruit a sizeable number of those remaining non-member businesses, it will enable us to upscale our services dramatically.  This is an exciting challenge and if realized, it will benefit business growth and job creation in our community, it will also enable us to offer members business incubation and business accelerator services as an additional service for growth and development.

Vision

Our vision is to build a successful business network for our members.

Mission

The Business Chamber membership offers independent business owners a strategic, hands-on approach to sharing knowledge, achieving real time business growth opportunities whilst acting as the united voice of business in our community through a dedicated focus on the following priorities:

• Members business development and advocacy at important forums
• Effective local government relationships
• Community/Social responsibility

Strategy

In order for us to promote our member’s products and services effectively, we facilitate various platforms (digital media, website etc.), initiatives and actions:

• Network opportunities – we host approximately 25 networking events a year, from informal networking events like business coffee meetings to business breakfasts, an annual business expo and a formal themed gala dinner where industry leaders and practitioners present papers on business related topics that can be applied to businesses in the City of Drakenstein.
• Build your own business profile on the Chamber Website and sell your products and services on our social media pages
• Member referral service for new business on our 24/7 helpline
• Daily e-mail blasts of relevant business news and member product promotions to our member database
• Preferential procurement from members for chamber purchases of products and services
• Membership plaque (under development)
• Right to use chamber logo for your website
• Joint promotional and advertising drives
• We embrace change by aligning us with changes in world economic realities by investing in new digital technology platforms that enhances commercial activities
• Advertising opportunities on our website and social media
• Patron and community partner relationships to stay up to date with other community activities and opportunities
• Networking, information sharing and educational events
• Event sponsorship opportunities
• Member advocacy for business opportunities
• Recognition as a reputable and community minded business through your association of the Business Chamber
• Achievement of economies of scale due to the synergy unleashed through your increased exposure and large knowledge base available in the collective environment of the business chamber
• 24/7 Member Help Desk Service
• Subscriptions 100% tax deductible as a necessary business expense

Our Global Reach

• International contacts & knowledge through relationships with international business formations in the USA and Europe
• Access to hosted Trade Delegations & Consulates

External Focus

• Assistance with Import/Export Documentation (Certificates of Origin for exporters)
• Direct representation and negotiation at local government level
• Representation and negotiation at provincial and government level where appropriate.
• Affiliation with other industry groupings (Agriculture, Manufacturing, Academics, Safety Organizations and Agencies, local and regional governments)
• Business Development: Research and development on state-of-the-art business technologies as well as trade advocacy with relevant organizations and authorities for new business opportunities
• Subject Matter Expert Forums in the Chamber that can investigate stumbling blocks that might affect business negatively if not addressed collectively and proactively with stakeholders

For more information please visit our website at:  https://www.drakensteinsakekamer.co.za