Local businesses and entrepreneurs gathered at the 435 Rugby Ave Conference Centre for a business networking session aimed at strengthening connections and creating opportunities for growth.

Sponsored by Caxton, the session was hosted by the Randburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) and focused on the importance of collaboration at a time when many businesses continue to face economic pressures and challenges ranging from access to markets and funding to service delivery.

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RCCI CEO Richard Ntjana said the initiative was about helping to revive the business sector by bringing businesses from different industries together.

“We felt that maybe if we collaborate with Caxton, we’ll work together to revitalise the business and bring the spirit of building business together,” says Ntjana.

He said the ultimate goal was to contribute towards economic growth and job creation by encouraging businesses to support and do business with one another.

For entrepreneurs, particularly those running businesses on their own, networking can also provide an important source of support and shared experience. “Entrepreneurship is a very lonely journey,” says Ntjana. “If you collaborate with fellow entrepreneurs and share expertise and experience, it makes life easier.”

The event attracted businesses and professionals across sectors, including manufacturing, services, accounting, legal services and business consulting.

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Ntjana said first-time attendees could benefit from the experiences of established businesspeople who could share their journeys through entrepreneurship and building sustainable businesses.

The session also included a presentation by Caxton on how businesses can use its publications to gain exposure to potential markets. According to Ntjana, this kind of exposure is particularly important for businesses struggling to penetrate the market.

He said RCCI also plays an advocacy role, connecting businesses with local and provincial government while assisting companies seeking to access international markets through certificates of origin and links with trade missions.

For Ntjana, the message behind the session was captured in its theme: Connect, grow and succeed. “You can’t grow business without network, and then once you network, you make business,” he says.

The networking session therefore sought to move beyond simply exchanging contact details, creating opportunities for businesses to build relationships, share knowledge and potentially open doors for one another.

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