Newly-elected executive members Jai Christie (president), Gemma Shaw (secretary), Luke Puglisi (vice-president) and Jay Murray (treasurer) will lead the Western Cape Chamber of Commerce in 2024 after the group’s annual general meeting on 29 February. Photo: Supplied.
The soaring cost of freight and what can be done to assist local businesses will be front and centre for the new executive of the Western Cape Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) following the group’s annual general meeting on 29 February.
The meeting was started with the election of a new executive, with Jai Christie set to remain in the role of president in 2024.
Luke Puglisi was elected the chamber’s vice-president, with Jay Murray and Gemma Shaw filling the treasurer and secretary spots respectively.
The AGM was also used to showcase the chamber’s new website homepage, which will allow local businesses to join the organisation by simply clicking on a link.
Ms Shaw told Cape York Weekly the impact of freight on local business growth and access to State Government traffic cameras were quickly added to the new executive’s agenda for the coming year.
“At the completion of the AGM, the cost of freight and what options are available to the chamber to assist local businesses was discussed,” she said.
“[Transport and Main Roads] cameras were also discussed, and how the Weipa community can access these cameras.”
The highlights of the previous 12 months were also celebrated during the meeting, with the Western Cape Futures Symposium crowned the chamber’s major achievement.
The March 2023 symposium attracted 180 attendees that injected an estimated $90,000 into the local economy.
The digital Western Cape Business Directory will also be updated this year and is an invaluable tool for locals, tourists and business owners to search for and locate operators in the Western Cape region.
Ms Shaw said the new-look website would allow the WCCC to grow its membership in a “seamless” way.
“By clicking the link and entering details, it will automatically add the business to the chamber,” she explained.
“Membership fees will be able to be paid on the website.
“We are in the final stages of the website becoming live, and we will advertise via Facebook and the Cape York Weekly once it goes live.”
