The recent launch of a new London-based Chamber of Commerce offers African and Caribbean owned businesses in the UK a new voice for business.

The new London-based African and Caribbean Chamber of Commerce launched last month at the House of Commons. The event in Portcullis House brought together Ambassadors and High Commissioners from over 20 African and Caribbean countries, along with MP’s, business leaders, economists, and journalists.

Working closely with Government and developmental agencies internationally, the African and Caribbean Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, London, (ACCCE London) will support and empower black and minority–led businesses in the London and South East region.

Based upon the successful African and Caribbean Chamber launched in Bristol/South West in 2009, ACCCE London will facilitate trading between the UK and African and Caribbean countries and play a key part in strengthening the economy worldwide. Members will benefit from regular networking opportunities, business advice, and a range of training and mentoring programmes.

Members of ACCCE include more than 250 businesses from a wide range of sectors including: law; retail; accountancy; entertainment; marketing; ICT; journalism; public relations and design. Membership is open to anyone who supports the aims and ethos of ACCCE.

The key value that the ACCCE brings to the table, says ACCCE Executive Chairman, Fola Kudehinbu, is that “it provides an organisational structure to enable African & Caribbean owned and led businesses to articulate the key issues affecting them to UK government departments and agencies, other business organisations and African and Caribbean Embassies/High Commissions in the UK.”

As Kudehinbu explains, ““Since we launched the first Chamber in Bristol in 2009, we have forged powerful partnerships nationally and internationally. Of particular importance is our relationship with African & Caribbean Embassies and High Commissions in the UK and many Ambassadors and High Commissioners from African and Caribbean countries joined us in the House of Commons.”

A number of presentations during the launch highlighted the support from MPs of all political parties for the new Chamber, as well as from representatives of public and private sector organisations, who underscored the wide range of opportunities for investment in Africa and the Caribbean.

Ann Grant, Vice Chairman of Standard Chartered Capital Markets and former UK High Commissioner to South Africa, spoke of the positive return on investment that her company is achieving in Africa.

“Standard Chartered Bank has been investing and partnering in African businesses successfully for many years. We are encouraged and excited by the resurgence of interest in African business opportunities from the diaspora in the UK, represented by the launch of the African and Caribbean Chamber of Commerce.

I hope and expect that new business will flow, and wish the Chamber the very best of luck in making it real!”

The contribution of the skills within the African Diaspora to Africa’s development was also addressed by Frances Mensah Williams, Editor of ReConnect Africa, who noted that the so-called ‘brain drain’ from Africa also offers opportunities for ‘brain gain’ through the experience, contacts and links of Africans who have spent time working abroad.

“A significant part of Africa’s business landscape today has been transformed by the influence of and the direct and indirect participation of its Diaspora,” she said.

“Direct influence has come through investment in the form of new businesses creating much needed employment, and a host of joint ventures and skills and knowledge partnerships. The indirect influence is best illustrated by the billions of dollars remitted back into Africa by its non-resident citizens.”

The immediate goals of the ACCCE for the London Chamber are to establish itself as the principal voice of African & Caribbean owned and led businesses in London and South East England, to raise awareness of the range of services on offer and to build positive working relationships with potential partners, says Kudehinbu.

“With regards to ACCCE UK, our goals are to establish at least three more ACCCE branches in addition to Bristol and London by March 2012, to continue to promote the ACCCE brand in the UK and to continue our international programme in Africa and Caribbean through our "ACCCE Global" brand.”

“The Chamber has completed a number of successful export visits to Nigeria, South Africa and Jamaica with UKTI and, through ACCCE London, will continue to strengthen and improve its trading links with African and Caribbean countries.

“We are constantly looking to form mutually beneficial partnerships with global businesses and enterprise support organisations and naturally, our members will be the first to benefit from these unique and timely business opportunities,” he says

There is also a need to focus on developing young entrepreneurs within the Black business community, says Kudehinbu. The African and Caribbean Young Enterprise (ACYE) is the platform by which future business leaders (under 30 years old) are being encouraged and developed in business and enterprise creation. Over 100 members have so far joined ACYE Bristol and this successful model will also be implemented in London and the South East over the coming years.

Members of the London Chamber will receive numerous benefits from joining, says the Executive Chairman.

The African and Caribbean population in London is estimated to be around 2 million (15%) and this is set to grow in the next decade. African and Caribbean people have made London their home, contributing immensely not only to its rich cultural heritage, but also to its economic development.

Through the Chamber, African and Caribbean business owners can leverage this contribution to improve access and visibility and to have a voice in business policy decision making.

Africans in the UK can help to support the Chambers goals, says Kudehinbu, by becoming members of the Chamber in the first instance.

“They can also do so by promoting the values of ACCCE to their supporters and partners, encouraging other businesses to join ACCCE, and supporting our research and information programme through responding to our various consultation exercises.

“We look forward to continuing to support the business requirements of our unique and diverse business community nationally and internationally and leading by example.”

To find out more about the ACCCE, visit: www.ac3e.org