Swakop Chamber to bide its time

THE Swakopmund Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has decided to remain dormant for another year following its decision last year to unite with the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).

At a special general meeting held last week, the SCCI made an urgent appeal to members to join NCCI-Swakopmund. The SCCI’s Grit von Flutow told The Namibian last year that the oldest chamber in the country would not officially disband for a maximum period of two years to give the new united forum time to prove itself.Von Flutow said in a statement yesterday that SCCI funds would remain in an investment account for optimum interest rates, pending the 2005 meeting.She said every former SCCI member therefore had a responsibility to help create worthwhile projects in need of these funds.The statement said NCCI membership fees would be used for local projects.”Becoming a member of the NCCI-Swakopmund is necessary in order to influence the projects on the agenda and to have a say in the manner how the monies are to be spent,” she said.Von Flutow assured former SCCI members that the NCCI-Swakopmund executive committee consisted of members from private businesses.It is chaired by Anton von Wietersheim as the newly elected leader.Before the decision to unify the two business bodies, the 700-strong community of registered businesses at Swakopmund were divided as the two bodies had not seen eye to eye for many years.A major stumbling block which has hindered past attempts to unite the chambers was apparently Government influence in NCCI as Government officials served on the NCCI executive.The SCCI’s Grit von Flutow told The Namibian last year that the oldest chamber in the country would not officially disband for a maximum period of two years to give the new united forum time to prove itself.Von Flutow said in a statement yesterday that SCCI funds would remain in an investment account for optimum interest rates, pending the 2005 meeting.She said every former SCCI member therefore had a responsibility to help create worthwhile projects in need of these funds.The statement said NCCI membership fees would be used for local projects.”Becoming a member of the NCCI-Swakopmund is necessary in order to influence the projects on the agenda and to have a say in the manner how the monies are to be spent,” she said.Von Flutow assured former SCCI members that the NCCI-Swakopmund executive committee consisted of members from private businesses.It is chaired by Anton von Wietersheim as the newly elected leader.Before the decision to unify the two business bodies, the 700-strong community of registered businesses at Swakopmund were divided as the two bodies had not seen eye to eye for many years.A major stumbling block which has hindered past attempts to unite the chambers was apparently Government influence in NCCI as Government officials served on the NCCI executive.