WHITE RIVER – The Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT) kicked off the year with its first networking breakfast last Thursday.

The chamber started 2017 off by focusing on the impact global business trends had on local business. The session, held at Bundu Lodge was organised by KLCBT in partnership with MEGRO Learning.

As the official representative body of business and tourism in the Kruger Lowveld region, KLCBT aims to enable business people to network and expand their footprints through these informative sessions.

“In order to maximise their reach, entrepreneurs need to continuously meet every now and then,” KLCBT chairman, Past TJ Mare, explained. “In doing so they get to exchange contacts for further partnerships.”
The gatherings are not exclusive to the chamber’s members. “We also invite other local entrepreneurs to join us in these meetings,” he said.

Strategists from a Gauteng-based business consulting company, Inavit Group, spoke about issues affecting business growth in the country. Mr Richard du Toit, from Inavit, said political instability also negatively impacted investment opportunities in local businesses. “The high statistics of youth unemployment, poor public education, volatile economic environment and the dwindling confidence in the ruling party are some of the factors that hamper foreign investments and economic growth,” he said. According to Mr Dolf van Rooyen, from MEGRO, it is important for local business people to change their mindset on how they conduct their businesses.

“There is always a correlation on how we do busines as locals and how our counterparts in other parts of the world trade. We are investment partners and we should be mindful of the changes,” Van Rooyen said.