Maritime industry powerhouse elected president of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Mr. Prasheen Maharaj, the newly elected president of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), was introduced during the Durban Chambers Gala Dinner event, which took place on September 20, 2022, at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
According to Maharaj, the CEO of Sandock Austral Shipyards in Durban, the chamber is dedicated to fostering a robust and favorable business environment for its members in order to expand members’ economic possibilities.
The DCCI Gala dinner is an annual event attended by business leaders, national, provincial and local politicians, captains of the industry, labour representatives and members of the civil society.
According to an article published by the Independent Newspapers (The Mercury), Durban Chamber Gala Dinner’s media partner, the occasion provided a platform for Maharaj to thank his predecessor, Mr Nigel Ward, for his commitment and hard work hailing the work that has been done in positioning the chamber as major advocates champion for the business community in Durban and KwaZulu Natal.
“It is through resilient leadership that the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry withstood the test of times. As the past president hands over the baton, I believe my task is not reinvent the wheel but to simple continue to drive and protect the vision and brand of our organisation,” he said.
Maharaj called for an “entrepreneurial revolution” to address the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment, and inequality. “The government or large corporates can’t create jobs fast enough, but individual entrepreneurs can, through starting a business, a co-operative or self-employment.”
The former founding board member of the EThekwini Maritime Cluster (EMC) also identified practical alliances to close the gap between the public and private sectors, saying that it was necessary to close the trust gap between these crucial sectors. “One of the ways to do this is for the public to increase their ‘do-say’ ratio. Basically, deliver timeously on the promises made. In return, I’m sure the private sector, by employing a conscious capitalism mindset, will be an invaluable partner in solving the challenges that this country faces”.
Maharaj made a commitment that in promoting the vision and goals of the Durban Chamber, he plans to leave no one behind. “We work tirelessly and relentlessly with all economic role players to ensure a prosperous economy for the citizens of Durban. When we have a prosperous population, we have a thriving business environment,” said Maharaj.
He finished by noting that during his three-year term, he will concentrate on three strategic goals: increasing membership, generating money, and continuing to uphold the Chamber’s reputation and legacy for the benefit of its members.
Source: The Mercury