Being the only organization that serves the interests of agribusinesses in South Africa, the main objective of the Agricultural Business Chamber is to be actively involved and influential in critical strategic areas that have direct impact on agribusinesses in South Africa. In so doing the Agricultural Business Chamber assists in the creation of a healthy agribusiness environment where agricultural members can flourish. By facilitating excellent networking opportunities through its effective administrative structure, agribusinesses in South Africa are able to play a dynamic and creative role within the local and international agribusiness environment.
The Agricultural Business Chamber focus much of its efforts on the developing agricultural sector by promoting and facilitating agribusinesses’ progress with regard to Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), transformation, post-settlement support for land reform beneficiaries and agribusiness projects to support new emerging black farmers. The Agricultural Business Chamber is currently leading discussions in the AgriBEE policy formulation and the positioning for agribusiness, through its participation in the AgriBEE Charter Council. Following from this, the involvement of the Agricultural Business Chamber in economic and trade policy formulation, international and regional trade facilitation and enhancement of national and international competitiveness aspects is viewed as imperative.
Other aspects that currently enjoy on-going focus towards creating an enabling agribusiness environment, are amongst others the Agro-logistics Strategy, Co-operatives Act, Companies Act, Land Bank Act, Competition Amendment Act, Consumer Protection Bill, the electricity crisis and the positioning of South Africa in response to the international economic and financial crisis.
NEPAD and international trade go hand-in-hand and therefore the Agricultural Business Chamber attempts are aimed at promoting trade and opening up agribusiness opportunities through good relations between South Africa and its neighbours through the NEPAD Business Foundation (NBF).
The Agricultural Business Chamber is also associated with Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), Agri SA and international organisations such as the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), the European Marketing and Research Council (EMRC), The African Green Revolution – Agriculture (AGRA), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IAMA).
Two types of membership at the Agricultural Business Chamber are available, viz. basis and corporate membership. The membership fee for 2009/2010 of basis members is calculated at 0,006% of the turnover of the organization/company, with a minimum fee of R11,200-00 (plus VAT). The maximum membership fee is R134,400-00 (plus VAT) for 2009/2010. Corporate members have automatic representation on the ABC Council. The ABC council meets a minimum of three times per year. Corporate members also have maximum voting rights at the ABC’s congress that is held biennially.
Why should your agribusiness be a member of the Agricultural Business Chamber?
- The ABC is the only organisation that serves the collective interests of agribusinesses in South Africa
- The core focus of the ABC is to create a competitive environment within which its members can operate and prosper
- The ABC facilitates networking opportunities so that South African agribusinesses can play an active and creative role within the local and international business environment
- The ABC is directly involved in the legislative and policy environment
- The ABC is affiliated to BUSA in partnership with Agri SA, to Agri SA and the NEPAD Business Foundation (NBF), while maintaining close links with international organisations such as the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IAMA)
- The ABC is an effective and efficient administrative structure
For more information on membership at the ABC,
click here to download an overview of the details on ABC membership benefits and costs.
To apply for membership,
click here to download an ABC membership application form
For more information on being or becoming an ABC member, feel free to
Contact the ABC office