The Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) hosted a successful business summit on July 22, drawing a strong turnout from local entrepreneurs, engineers and suppliers across the region.

According to MCCI CEO Anna-Marth Ott, the event exceeded expectations, filling every available venue space.

“We only had space for 300 people, so we squished in the other 10 people,” Ott said, confirming a final total of 310 delegates.

“It was another oversubscribed event.”

She said the delegate list was dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises, representing the core demographic of the region’s commercial supply chain.

Chamber focuses on facilitation

When asked about specific corporate deals or public-private partnerships finalised during the event, Ott clarified the chamber’s distinct role in the regional economy, emphasising that the MCCI focuses on facilitation rather than direct deal-making.

“We are not a government department that tries to sell contracts. The chamber works in a way that we create an environment where people do deals. A lot of people did a lot of business there,” Ott explained.

Ott noted that the chamber has shifted away from municipal-driven programmes to focus directly on creating commercial market access for local companies.

“In the olden days when we worked with the municipality, we did a lot of good work. But now, we focus on helping our members. If you are part of the chamber, you have access to a market.”

For local business owners looking to grow their reach, Ott urged them to engage with the organisation directly online.

“They must go to our website at www.middelburginfo.com to see how to become a member. Our membership is not expensive, and it ensures businesses have entrance into the market.”

Workshop targets extortion concerns

Looking ahead, the MCCI is preparing for a practical workshop aimed at addressing security concerns impacting local commerce.

“We had a training session with the police on July 23 about what to do regarding extortion,” Ott noted.