GREATER KNYSNABUSINESS CHAMBER Join the Chamber
The Chamber

When business speaks together, it's harder to ignore.

The Greater Knysna Business Chamber is a non-profit membership organisation that advocates for the growth and development of local business and the wider community.

Become a member

What we’re for

The Chamber is a vehicle to unlock opportunities for members to connect, grow and be capacitated, and to represent the interests of business to the benefit of the entire Greater Knysna community.

Vision

To be the most progressive business organisation in the Garden Route through creating a vibrant economic environment enabling all businesses to contribute to the sustainable benefit of Greater Knysna.

Mission

To be a vibrant, sustainable membership organization that addresses the interests of our members, the business community and the broader community of Greater Knysna.

Purpose

To be a profitable, innovative membership organization with clear democratic processes, building mutually beneficial relationships with all spheres of government and civil and business organizations.

Strategic pillars

  • Growth — create an enabling environment for economic growth.
  • Service — deliver services that members value through sound governance.
  • Social and economic development — drive sustainable economic development and job creation.
  • Communities — contribute to the wellbeing of the communities we serve.
Work streams

How the work gets done

Each sub-committee mirrors a municipal portfolio, giving business a standing counterpart inside local government processes.

Economic & Skills DevelopmentSkills, employment, enterprise
Planning & Economic DevelopmentTown and economic planning
Financial & Corporate ServicesMunicipal finance, rates
Tourism & PRDestination marketing
Infrastructure ServicesWater, roads, services
Integrated Human SettlementsHousing, land use
Community ServicesCommunity upliftment
All sub-committeesEvery portfolio above

What we did last year

The Chamber's published 2024 review records its first full year of activity, framed against its Vision 2040 goal of making Greater Knysna "investment ready".

  • Regional Investment Conference (RIC24) — co-hosted with Knysna Municipality, Garden Route District Municipality and Yona Yethu, with Deputy President Paul Mashatile as keynote speaker.
  • International relations — hosted the French Ambassador and Consul General, exploring a twinning with Gujan-Mestras in France and links to FSACCI.
  • Event support — the GravelBurn 750km cycle tour and the SAFA Women's Soccer Championship, plus a membership stall at the Knysna Oyster Festival.
  • Networking — partnering with the established second-Thursday Boerie Bash rather than running competing events.