30 Benefits of Belonging to the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture:
1. Corporate Exposure/Visibility: Through Publications, Marketing and Referrals, members businesses are brought to limelight.
2. Business Support: Various advocacy programmes as well as proposals to Government and International institutions enable members businesses to receive external support such as loans, grants etc.
3. Credibility: Being a member of the Chamber affects people’s perception about your business and makes you credible before your customers and business associates both home and abroad.
4. Networking/Making Business Contact: As a member, more biz- biz opportunities are initiated for your networking and business connections.
5. Business Relationships: This is all about gaining friends, associates and even advocates. The people you get to know as a chamber of commerce member may or may not do business with you, but the social and emotional return in building lasting relationships can be more meaningful than the financial return you seek. As you attend chamber events, serve on committees and interact with people outside your normal routines, you will have the opportunity to interact with all types of personalities.
6. Protection of interest and giving voice to voiceless businesses: The chamber of commerce intervenes and intercedes for all members in times of some distinctive business challenges.
7. New products/services promotion: The chamber of commerce may assist members with new products, services and ideas to market and promote them.
8. Technology Transfer and business idea stimulation: Being a member of a chamber of commerce provides useful platform to access some industrial technologies, ideas and economic opportunities.
9. Training and recruitment of personnel of member companies: The chamber of commerce can assist members companies to source, recruit and train workers.
10. Discount opportunities for members: Many members of the Chamber often offer discounts to their fellow members while some services from local and foreign institutions/organizations may be secured by the chamber of commerce for members at discounted rates.
11. International Business links and recommendations: Since foreign investors verify the legitimacy of individuals/businesses from the chamber of commerce before going into business with them, it is a wise decision to belong in order to gain positive links and recommendations.
12. Partnership platform: Two or more members willing to partner for the purpose of executing a business project may gain such access through the chamber of commerce platform.
13. Access to government programmes and opportunities: Information from Government easily get to members via the chamber of commerce.
14. Access to ECCIMA partnership with other national and international organizations: Members of a chamber of commerce automatically gain access to other organizations locally or internationally affiliated to the chamber of commerce.
15. Reduced cost of doing business: Through information dissemination and enlightenment programmes from the chamber of commerce, members reduce some of their costs of doing business.
16. Economic Development and Business Linkage through Foreign Trade Missions: Members will have more frequent opportunities to visit exhibitions abroad as they will be duly informed when such travelling opportunities arise. Also the chamber helps to facilitate the Visa procurement of its members travelling to do businesses abroad.
17. Letters of Introduction and Recommendation to Embassies: Members of the Chamber who intends to travel abroad will be given letters of introduction (on requests) to facilitate Visa application.
18. Listing of members on the Chambers Website: To give maximum exposure to members, their corporate details will be uploaded on the Chamber’s website. This will complement the marketing and networking effort of members. This will make it easier for visitors to the site to make contact with the members directly.
19. Explore Business Opportunity Forum, Entrepreneurship and Management Training: As an entrepreneur, you need to be learning new things. Chambers of commerce offer seminars and luncheons where you can learn about new trends or freshen up on rusty skills. Being a member provides opportunities for business training and development, as well as newsletters with helpful articles, business advice and tips that keep your business a step ahead of the game.
20. Mentoring: The chamber is a veritable place for small business start-ups to find a more knowledgeable and experienced person in their proposed line of business to guide.
21. Trade Documentation: The chamber of commerce facilitates some basic trade documentation for members such as issuance of Certificate of Origin and other Int’l documentations at subsidized rates.
22. Business Advisory services: Members can easily receive various business advices via The chamber’s Business Advisory Board at subsidized rates.
23. Affordable legal services: The chamber of commerce team of legal practitioners who are usually members also can offer their professional services to members businesses such as review of legal agreement, drafting of MOU, Arbitration, Mediation and conciliation via the chamber’s Legal Advisory Board.
24. Access to policy advocacy: Through Business Environment Roundtable, Business Luncheon, Press Briefing, Press Release, Seminar/Conference, and Stakeholders organized with Government Representatives and Agents which affects the entire economy, the chamber of commerce can help members to gain from some basic advocacy services.
25. Exchange of Benefits from various trade groups: The League of Associations in the chamber of commerce, covering Agriculture, Manufacturing, Mining, Finance, Construction/Engineering, ICT, Oil & Gas, SME, Transport, Automobile, Clearing & Forwarding, Hotel & Tourism, Artisans, Medical Practitioners, Legal Practitioners, Educations etc. exchange their various benefits to all members.
26. Mailing List Access/Comprehensive Directory: The chamber of commerce members have access to mailing lists/Comprehensive Directory of credible companies in the city or region which enables a direct contact or visit to the person in charge instead of throwing darts hoping to reach or get a buying power.
27. Social Responsibility: The chamber of commerce is usually up to speed on many of the non-profit initiatives taking place. These non- profits often use the Chamber as a resource to seek out sponsors and volunteers. The chamber also mobilize members for investment in the rural areas especially in Agricultural Developments, Food Processing, Preservation, Storage and Export.
28. Discount for participation at Trade Fairs: The chamber of commerce organizes hi-tech trade fairs and members will enjoy a discount on participation fees.
29. Gain a Voice in Government: The Chamber of Commerce as the umbrella that houses industrialists helps protect the principles of free enterprises and aid businesses in being treated fairly. It also takes on the tough issues and opposes new regulations, taxes, and fees of the government that are directed towards businesses.
30. Other Business Services: Recovering of debts from overseas and local business associates, settlement of international and local business disputes among business associates/partners, attracting government appointments/award to members in recognition of their outstanding business achievements, registration and incorporation of business names etc.