SMME CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON PETROCHEMICAL AND MUNICIPAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

19 July 2007

The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry together with SAPREF (our business is more than a refinery), and the EThekwini Municipality, today hosted a conference to assist historically disadvantaged South African (HDSA) SMMEs to access business opportunities within the petrochemical industry and the municipality.

Attendees were provided with information on how to meet the procurement requirements of a refining business within the municipality and the opportunity to meet procurement specialists from these organizations. They were also given insight into the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s involvement in SMME development.

“The Liquid Fuels Charter and the newly promulgated Broad Based BEE Act requires the oil industry to provide for greater participation of HDSA enterprises,” states Prudence Mbatha of SAPREF. She mentioned that amongst the general challenges faced by BEE suppliers to the petroleum industry are the lack of access to information about procurement opportunities, failure to fully comply with general tendering requirements, lack of access to financial resources and the domination of large incumbent suppliers. “This situation prompted the need for this collaborative conference,” explains Mbatha

Topics included an overview of the global oil industry, requirements to doing business with the petrochemical industry and with the eThekwini Municipality and the newly gazetted Codes of Good Practice.



For further information kindly contact:

Mbali Nkomonde
Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry
SMME Coordinator
Tel: +27 (0) 31 335 1038
Fax: +27 (0) 31 332 1288
Email: nkomondem@durbanchamber.co.za