Page 16 - KZN Business Sense Vol.2 No.5

Nominees announced for KZN Exporter Awards 2016
The partnership between
the Durban Chamber of
Commerce and Industry
and Transnet Port Terminals
continues to grow as they
will again host the 2016 KZN
Exporter of the year awards.
Now in their 16th year, the
awards have grown progressively
since their inception in 2000
with four additional categories
being included this year.
The competition recognises
companies in the export
business in the province. Their
successes of the past year are
celebrated but this goes beyond
the usual sectors and businesses
normally affiliated with the term
‘export’.
According to Transnet Port
Terminals CE, Karl Socikwa,
the awards since their inception
and TPT’s sponsorship sixteen
years ago have expanded
significantly as far as the scope of key players. Three of the four new
industries and businesses that are
participating. “As a key enabler of
exporters in this country, we play
a critical role in ensuring that
South Africa does not only export
traditional cargo to the world but
also in exporting various other
services. As the cog that ensures
that the wheels of this country’s
economy are continuously
turning, it only makes sense
that we continue to be involved
with an event of this magnitude.
Exporters are key role players
and drivers for what makes a
good economy work. The value
of the Rand depends on us for
Workplace HIV/Aids
On 8 September 2016
the Durban Chamber
of Commerce and
Industry in partnership with the the world. According to the
Durban Chamber Foundation
hosted a conference for SMEs
about ‘’Workplace HIV/Aids’’.
Although many large businesses have an annual turnover not
have begun offering HIV/AIDS exceeding 50 million euro, and/
prevention and treatment services or an annual balance sheet total
to employees, the vast majority
of small and medium sized
enterprises (SMEs) have not.
SMEs face constraints reducing
their demand for services.
While contributing significantly
to the economy, SMEs foster
diversification through their
development of new and
unsaturated sectors of the
economy. In addition, innovative seem to be
and technology-based small and
medium enterprises can provide
a platform for local, regional and
international growth. Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are
the bedrock of the economies
of many countries. They have
been identified as productive
16
President of the Durban Chamber Mr Zeph Ndlovu
economic activity. It is fitting that Chamber, the KZN Exporter
during Transport and Maritime
Month that we recognise these
categories introduced will look
to award recipients beyond the
traditional exporter of tangible
products and focus more on
recipients exporting soft skills. In
pursuit of becoming a growing
nation we need to think beyond
the traditional boundaries of
exporting because as a country
we can only grow with the
increase of net exports,” stated
Socikwa. growing manufacturing sector
Dumile Cele, CEO Durban
Chamber of Commerce &
Industry said, “As the Durban
drivers of inclusive economic
growth and development in
South Africa and around
European Union, micro, small
and medium enterprises employ
fewer than 250 persons and
not exceeding 43 million euro.
Researchers estimate that, in
South Africa, SMEs make up
91% of formalised businesses,
provide employment to about
60% of the labour force and total
economic output accounts for
roughly 34% of GDP.
The main constraints for SMEs to
deal with the impact of HIV/AIDS
■■ A lack of time by
management which quite
often proritises operational
activities
■■ A lack of information on how
to address the issue
■■ Financial constraints to
of the Year Awards is an
opportunity for us to celebrate
and encourage exports out of
KZN. The Durban Chamber
processes thousands of
certificates of origin, which are
important international trade
documents attesting that goods
are of South African origin.
We have found it encouraging
that there has been an increase
in the number of certificates
of origin processed in the last
year. This is testament to the
and exports from South Africa
as a result of a favourable
foreign exchange rate due to a
weaker rand.”
outsource
■■ The challenge for NGOs,
trade unions, bigger
companies, and government
in finding means and
methods to reach out to SMEs
■■ To get the latest cost-effective and AIDS in the workplace
methodologies for developing
workplace programmes
Left to right: Thuthu Mbhele (DCF), Simphiwe Mabhele (ILO), Vani Moodley (DCF), Frances Chisholm (Durban US
Consulate), Eva Marumo (KZN Department of Health), Prof Nceba Gqaleni (Chairman DCF), Kwanele Gumbi (DCF),
Dr Lucky Ndokweni (DCF) and Dumile Cele (DCF)
The awards are also supported
by other strategic partners such
as the Department of Economic
Development, Tourism and
Economic Affairs (edtea), Trade
& Investment KwaZulu-Natal
(TIKZN), Ethekwini Maritime
Cluster (EMC), Small Enterprise
Development Agency (SEDA)
and the Export Credit Insurance
Corporation (ECIC) to highlight
successful exporters in KwaZulu-
Natal.
We are pleased to announce this
year’s finalists in the following Centre.
categories;
Emerging exporter
Rocket Works (Pty) Ltd, BBF
Safety Group, Factocode (Pty) Ltd co.za or 031 335 1000.
■■ To disseminate those to SMEs
The colloquium highlighted
programmes and projects in
various countries aimed at
assisting SMEs combat HIV
including resource mobilisation
towards zero new infections,
T/A Microfinish
Small
Hillcrest AIDS Centre Woza Moya,
Saddler Belts & Leathercrafts (Pty)
Ltd, Africa! Ignite
Medium
Bata South Africa, SBS Water
Systems (Pty) Ltd
Large
SAPPI Southern Africa,
Sumitomo Rubber South Africa
(Pty) Ltd, Inhep Electronics
Holdings (Pty) Ltd
Africa
Pakco, Toyota SA Motors (Pty)
Ltd, Electronics Eletronics (Pty)
Ltd
Service Provider
Mediterranean Shipping
Company (Pty) Ltd, Saltrans
Logistics, Rohlig Grinrod
The new categories are:
■■ Manufacturing
■■ Agro Processing
■■ Creative Industries
■■ Services Sector
The winners of the 2016
KZN Exporter of the Year will
be announced at the Awards
Gala Banquet on 20 October
at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli
International Convention
For more information, please contact
Sharmala Pillay, Durban Chamber Events
Manager, on pillays@durbanchamber.
zero discrimination and zero
aids related deaths in our
workplaces. n
If you require more information about
the Durban Chamber Foundation, please
contact Professor Nceba Gqaleni, Chair
of the Durban Chamber Foundation,
on nceba5850@gmail.com