The Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business (PMCB) has earned global recognition for its role in driving economic development, taking home the Enterprise Development Leadership award at the recent Go Global Awards in London. According to the International Trade Council (ITC), the awards attracted almost 6 000 nominations. The ITC said the accolade highlights the chamber’s strong commitment to supporting business growth and driving economic development in the region.
“Congratulations to the entire team on this well-deserved recognition.” PMCB CEO Melanie Veness said the organisation is thrilled with what its team, supported by sponsors, achieved through the Global Export Accelerator projects, which have empowered 100 black-owned enterprises over the past four years. To have our work showcased and acknowledged by the International Trade Council in this way is incredible, and it’s encouraging too. “I need to acknowledge our project managers, Shan and Shari Cade, for their unbelievable dedication and commitment — they truly went above and beyond what was expected.
“Our project partners — the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the German Government and the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs — without whom the work wouldn’t have been possible. “Above all, our members, several of whom contributed time and/or Enterprise Development funding and support to the entrepreneurs on both programmes. It takes a village to raise successful entrepreneurs, and we’re eternally grateful for ours,” Veness said.
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She added that what began in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic under the Employment and Skills for Development in Africa GIZ programme has evolved into a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem expanding beyond South Africa’s borders. Now PMCB is going global. The Global Export Accelerator projects are scaling up and, as part of the IYBA-SEED (Investing in Young Businesses in Africa — Supporting Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development), a Team Europe Initiative, we are building strategic partnerships with enterprise-support organisations in eight countries along the North-South Corridor. “As validated in the ITC awards, it takes an international village to combine resources and expertise for greater impact, with the aim of supporting start-ups and young entrepreneurs to develop sustainable, inclusive, job-creating businesses through cross-border trade,” said Veness.
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