BKCOB assisting women to export products

Executive Director of BKCOB: Lizelle Maurice

The Border-Kei Chamber of Business (BKCOB), with approximately 600 business members, is situated in the Border-Kei region of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. The BKCOB was founded in 1877 and recognised as a nongovernmental organisation in 2013. Purporting to be the “Voice of Business in the Border-Kei Region”, the Chamber has its head office in East London and a branch in Komani, serving its members through various committees. Additionally, the BKCOB belongs to the Association of South African Chambers (ASAC).

The National Development Plan 2030 for South Africa adopted a gender mainstreaming strategy to address the advancement of women and the requirement for gender equality in its many chapters. Every chapter of the NDP recognised the need to address issues impacting women, youth, and individuals with disabilities as crosscutting, transversal, and overarching aims. Women's emancipation and the advancement of women's socioeconomic lives were among the NDP's highest priorities.

Empowering Women through the Women in Trade Export Readiness Programme

The plan called for a wide range of actions to be taken by 2030 in order to enhance women's equality and the transformation of the economy through the active engagement and empowerment of women.

Chairperson of the BKCOB Women’s Forum: Bonnie Currin

The expansion and development of women-owned businesses and preparing them for export are two areas that have been highlighted as having the potential to significantly improve the socio-economic status of women, particularly given that less than 20% of women-owned businesses export. In order to do this, the BKCOB considered it vital for the organisation to collaborate with Trade Forward Southern Africa (TFSA) on their Women in Trade Export Readiness Programme, funded by the UK government.

This programme was run by the UK School of Export, and the lectures and questionnaires were distributed through an online management system. The programme consisted of two main components to enrich the participants: group coaching sessions and mandatory one-on-one coaching sessions.

The BKCOB actively started recruiting at the beginning of July 2022 with participants being selected from identified sub-sectors of industry that have potential for export. Of the 19 women interviewed, 18 were recruited and unfortunately, two women dropped out due to various reasons.

From the first cohort of women in the Border-Kei Region, 16 women went on to conclude the programme acquired certificates of completion, and left with a wealth of new knowledge and connections to draw from.

One of the participants, Simone Klaasen, co-owner of Ginger Love, said: “I absolutely love the sessions, it’s been so exciting to meet different women from different fields and to be able to network.”

She acknowledged the sound contributions made by Executive Director of BKCOB, Lizelle Maurice, saying, “ Lizelle is so knowledgeable and very helpful with all sessions.”

Women were selected for the programme in the following categories:

1 x Aquaculture

1 x Mohair and Wool

1 x Green Technology and Renewable Energy

5 x Fruits, Nuts, and Vegetables

7 x Condiments & Specialty Foods

3 x Cosmetics and Natural Ingredients

Chamber of Women’s Forum

The Chamber Women's Forum has taken up the Women in Trade Export Readiness Programme's second cohort, which began on December 1st, 2022, with the graduation date set for early in March 2023 Chairperson of the BKCOB women’s forum, Bonnie Currin, said it was impressive that strong candidates in the Border region could be immediately identified, with their products well beyond export standard.

Participants selected had to demonstrate a strong hold on the local market, with their products already established for two years or more.

Currin said given the success the participants have had in the local market, export opportunities would definitely yield results. Despite local economic challenges, their success was a testament to their resilience and business acumen.

“A lot of these businesses started as side hustles and over time have grown into local established brands,” she said.

“The maturity of their products shows they have what it takes. They understand success will come but it will take sacrifice now, especially because none of the businesses have experience in exporting.” Currin said the programme would have ripple effects through creating jobs and contributing to the economy.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Tel: 043 743 8438

Email : admin@bkcob.co.za

Website : www.bkcob.co.za

Address: Chamber House, The Hub, Beacon Bay, East London, 5214