The Forum is chaired by Louise Pelser (SAFLEC) and the Vice Chair is Paul Alvarez (PwC).

The Goals and Objectives of this forum are:

• To promote Durban as an effective trading hub;
• To develop a comprehensive understanding of the policy environment, mechanisms and special purpose vehicles, promoted and resourced by the DTI and EDTEA and expressed as the Provincial Growth and Development Plan, clusters, innovation hubs and corridors for development; and
• Promote export trade through the DCCI Exporter of the Year Awards, as is major contributory event for the year.

The Terms of Reference for the forum is:

The Terms of Reference which are contained in the document have been developed in alignment with the Chamber’s overall objectives as presented in the Chamber’s Charter as well as the recent strategic objectives as approved the Board of Members.  
The Terms of Reference have been drafted as follows:

• Recruitment of corporate organizations to join the Chamber, in the line of Committee members’ regular duties;
• Initiating strategic partnerships with corporate organizations;
• Playing an active role and leading advocacy on trade related issues raised by members of the Chamber or those identified by the other Standing Committees;
• Addressing the trade related needs of members;
• Initiate Trade & Investment for the benefit of Durban Business;
• Create targeted outbound trade missions for the benefit of Durban Business;
• Initiate value-added partnerships through membership deals and legal kickbacks;
• Align with a Plan of Corporate Social Investment that the Board of Members may approve for the benefit of membership and the Chamber Brand;
• Feeding the Trade, Industry & Business Information Desk with relevant business information for distribution to Members;
• Consolidate national and international trade programmes (dti, tikzn, DIPA, SEDA, Trade Commission Offices, etc.) and recommend ones in which Chamber Members should participate;
• Post national and international trade programmes and business profiles in the Chamber Website;
• Providing input where and when necessary on policy issues at either a local or national level via the appropriate entities including all 3 tiers of government (National, Provincial and Municipal)
• Assess and initiate policies
• Recruit experts / specialists who can provide specific and relevant input that meets members’ expectations
• Transfer skills through interaction with Chamber staff and provide specific support where needed;
• Raise funds for the activities of the Committee and the Trade Desk; and
• Align with a Plan of Sponsorship that the Board of Members approves for the benefit of members.
• The committee shall meet at least 5 times per year.
• These Terms of Reference shall be reviewed periodically and when considered necessary, due to legal or market changes, and thereafter submitted to the Board of Management for approval.

The 2016 meeting dates are:
06 April | 08 June | 31 August | 06 October | 23 November
*These note these are provisional dates and subject to change

If you require further information about the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry Trade and Investment Forum, please contact Bharrie Pillay on pillayb@durbanchamber.co.za.