International relations

Even though FABCOS is headquartered in Johannesburg and predominantly operates in South Africa, its outlook is global. FABCOS, in accordance with its logo, is very much aware that the world has become borderless and that trends in other parts of the world have an impact on its work, the SA economy and member businesses. As a result, FABCOS works with other chambers and business organizations in other parts of the world. These partners include:

• The Confederation of Danish Industries (DI). DI is one of the leading business associations in Europe with over 11,000 members in a country of 5 million people. The Confederation of Danish Industry is the premier lobbying organization for Danish business on national and international issues. Members benefit from DI’s influence, a wealth of expertise, business services and events. DI members are private enterprises within manufacturing and services covering virtually all sub-sectors. The members of DI in each county constitute a regional federation dealing with regional policy as well as educational issues.

Joint programmes have been identified by FABCOS and DI that are of mutual interest and are currently being executed.

• The South African Turkish Business Association (SATBA). SATBA’s mission is to enhance business relations between RSA and Turkey. SATBA encourages investments to Turkey from RSA and from Turkey to RSA. SATBA aims, parallel to the developments elsewhere in the world and in its capacity of the highest level representative of the South African and Turkish private sector, at ensuring unity and solidarity between the members and commodity exchanges, enhancing development of the professions in conformance with general interest, facilitating professional work of members, promoting honesty and confidence in the relations of members with one another and with the general public, and preserving professional discipline and ethics.

• The Southern African – Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (SANEC). The Southern African – Netherlands Chamber of Commerce aims to stimulate business links between southern Africa and the Netherlands. SANEC provides information on the economic situation in both countries brings together potential trading partners and offers a wide range of services at competitive prices. Thereby it is aiming to achieve closer economic ties and better mutual understanding. With a considerable presence in Johannesburg, Cape Town and The Hague, SANEC is ideally positioned to offer an extensive business network. This network and local knowledge is an invaluable resource to South African and Dutch members alike.

 

In addition to the above, FABCOS creates business-to-business international linkages for its members. In this regard, a number of trade missions have been undertaken by FABCOS to other countries. In June 2009, 15 FABCOS members attended a trade mission in Istanbul, Turkey. A international missions held in SA were also attended by FABCOS members.

 

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