Middelburg Business Forum
The President, Vice-President and CEO of the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) attended the Steve Tshwete(STLM) Mayoral Round Table on 5 May 2021.
MCCI tabled the proposal to establish a Middelburg Business Forum, similar to the Middelburg Forum in the eighties.
The town successes, awards and growth developed out of work done by the people representing the town at the Middelburg Forum. The efforts and relationships built
during that time set the tone of the debates and plans; we are currently the beneficiaries of their work. Our members requested a more effective way to discuss opportunities
and meet with the community structures instead of the current disruptive manner in which these opportunities are demanded.
Quote from STLM’s Final LED Strategy 2016/2021
“Communities have over the years mobilised resources and organised themselves into semi-formal groupings to make membership contributions or fees. This has, however,
not been explored at businesses levels. Partly to this problem is a lack of support from the government in the form of additional resources when community members have taken such initiatives.
Furthermore, there are restrictions imposed by the Financial Service Board when informal groups do financial transactions exceeding certain limits as will be prescribed by the banking sector.
Emerging businesses, especially in townships, has coordinated but fractured efforts to approach business and other stakeholders.
All the key stakeholders must be identified, and a schedule of responsibilities be drawn to align the government, sector departments, development agencies, and the private sector.
There is a fair amount of financial programs and incentive schemes available for cooperatives and emerging businesses; however, a collaborative platform for all
stakeholders must be established to address socio-economic issues ranging from job creation, education, housing, safety and security.”
At the Mayoral Round Table, STLM and MCCI agreed to meet to establish the Middelburg Business Forum;
we will keep our members updated with the status quo.
