Celebrating Cultural Day and Women’s Empowerment

2016-02-01

During the World Chambers Congress, the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) CEO, Ms Dumile Cele signed a partnership with the Women Mean Business ACCI/IORA initiative which is aimed at supporting women’s economic empowerment across the Indian Ocean Rim. The DCCI hosted Dr Imogen Reid, currently working as a Senior Advisor for the Trade and International Affairs unit. The unit focuses on:
The formation of strategic relationships play a vital role in the DCCI’s core function as it ensures the delivery of improved services to members. Through its International Services Department, the Chamber uses its leverage to interact in the international arena providing services to incoming foreign delegations. This function is in line with the Business Vision to strengthen Durban’s international relations. This function speaks to goal 1, 2 and 8 of the Business Vision which the Chamber initiated to challenge the Business community of eThekwini, to apply its collective mind to encourage local economic development.

Goal 1: Increased investment in the City’s economy

Goal 2: Institutional partnership and collaboration and

Goal 8: The achievement if ‘international destination’ status for leisure, business and other tourist

Dr Reid was the key note speaker at the event and spoke about ‘’To enhance and support Woman’s Economic Empowerment across the Indian Ocean Rim region’’. Dr Reid is a passionate advocate for women’s economic empowerment. During Australia’s hosting of the B20/G20 submits, Dr Reid, through her role at ACCI worked to ensure women’s empowerment, gender equity and female participation. She ensured these issues were visible and embedded into the formal B20/G20 agenda. In June 2014 Dr Reid led and co-ordinated the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEP) event. This event coincided with the B20 proceedings and was attended by over 170 high level international delegates. She was also instrumental in ACCI signing onto the United Nation’s WEP’s CEO Statement of Support.

Dr Reid is currently leading the ACCI’s Women Mean Business initiative, backed by the Australian federal government. The initiative is designed to enhance and support women’s economic empowerment across the Indian Ocean Rim region.

About Chamber’s Forums:

The DCCI’s Policy and Advocacy department facilitates the Chamber’s Standing Forums. These Forums exist to inform the Chamber’s Policy and Advocacy activities whilst highlighting pressing issues faced by the Business community. These Forums allow the Chamber to maintain a liaison function with government and other key stakeholders.

Another benefit of the Forums is that they provide networking opportunities for businesses with common interests.

If you are Women owned business, it is important to belong to organised bodies that will lobby and advocate on your behalf and also promote socio-economic interests. It is through this primary need that the DCCI established the WIB forum.

The goals for the WIB forum are set out as follow:
If you would like more information about the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Women in Business (WIB) Forum, please contact Bharriey Pillay