Western Cape business organising itself into powerful network of economic networks

It’s official. The Western Cape business community is organising itself into a powerful Network of economic Networks, to strengthen the regional economy.

Business stakeholders turned up in numbers on Thursday night at a launch event attended by a broad range of industry associations. The initiative, championed by the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will leverage private sector co-operation to promote growth, job-creation, and social transformation.

“We believe we need to be more directly involved in shaping our economic future,” said Chamber President Jacques Moolman in his welcoming address. “And what this means in effect is that we need to cooperate faster and smarter.”

“If we want to move forward, we’ve got to take more responsibility to shape our own future, and that is what we’re doing,” Moolman said.

Thursday’s launch event featured mini-presentations from 29 industry associations, as well as input from economic analysts. Covering almost all the key industries in the Western Cape. Attendees ranged from well-known structures such as Agri Western Cape and the Black Management Forum, to smaller groupings such as the Hermanus Business Chamber and the Plein Chamber from Mitchell’s Plein. 

Function speakers all expressed optimism about the new Network, which is likely to expand further as more organisations join.  Stakeholders will use the Chamber’s digital platforms to connect key role players in the private sector, public sector and academia.

The initiative also involves mapping each sub-sector by identifying key players, challenges and linkages with other sectors. An initial cross-sector survey, to commence in September, will assist in pinpointing impediments to economic growth and potential for public sector support and improvement.

Some of the intended benefits to flow from the Network include:

1. Mutual trust among private sector and public sector stakeholders, specifically around innovation and strengthening economic-eco-systems.
2. Smarter public-private sector cooperation to enhance sector growth.
3. Increased public investment geared towards economic growth priorities.
4. Stronger local-innovation systems.

Chamber Vice President Derryn Brigg said the Network of Networks initiative involved putting the Chamber’s key goal into action – by allowing experience and expertise to connect around a common purpose:  “It really is all about connection.  It’s an easy-to-use network allows creative people do what they do best – innovate and motivate,” Brigg said in her address. “We look forward to innovation, fun and positive results that directly or indirectly benefit all our business members and society in general,” she said.

Vanessa Davidson, co-founder of BlueCape, said the Thursday’s launch event illustrated the potential for sector collaboration: “ It was energising to participate in the collective energy, expertise and passion at the event. The proposed harnessing and leveraging of the network of networks by the chamber creates a positive outlook for industry driven economic growth in the cape in close partnership with government,” Davidson said.