Adama (Nazareth) Chamber of Commerce

 Home

Member of
Ethiopian Chamber
of Commerce

 History  [top]                                                                                                                  

Adama Chamber of Commerce and Sectorial Associations (ACCSA) the former name was Nazareth Chamber of Commerce was established in March 1972 as an autonomous chartered and non-profitable organization. It comprises, in its membership, public and private sectors of the commerce, agriculture, industry, tourism, transport and other related economic sectors. ACCSA is run by an 11 member Board of Directors, which consists of the representatives of legally registered (licensed) active members of the Business Communities (private sectors).

 Mission, Objective  [top]                                                                                            

The main objectives of Adama Chamber are to:

• Promote and protect the common interests of trade and industry;

• Promote international trade, particularly exports;

• Provide supporting services to domestic trade development and investment promotion;

• Provide training to owners/ managers of small and medium-size enterprises and to potential entrepreneurs in order to improve the management capability of the former and to help the latter to create business.

In addition to these, Adama Chamber, according to chamber New proclamation No 341/2003, shall have the following services (Duties and Responsibilities) based on the above mentioned objectives. These are:

• To organize or participate in domestic seminars;

• To settle, when the parties so request by way of arbitration, differences and disputes rising out of business transaction between its members;

• To conduct studies relating to the improvement of the quality and quantity of commodities produced within its locality.

• To undertake studies concerning trade constraints;

• To make members aware of the appropriate Government policies, regulations, directives, practices and techniques;

• To prepare commercial gazettes, bulletins, reports and directories concerning trade;

• To collect, compile and disseminate information on market business activities and other related issues relevant to the economic sector;

• To organize and coordinate trade exhibitions relevant to the economic sector;

• To change fees for the services it renders;

• To perform other activities necessary to accomplish its objectives.

 Fields of Intervention   [top]                                                                                      

In order to promote the development of Commerce, Industry, Tourism, Transport and Agriculture, ACCSA strives to provide a variety of activities to its members. Some of these activities and /or facilities available are as follows:

Training  [top]

By conducting training needs assessment, and based on the request of similar institutions, the Chamber offers training courses which are provided in the following fields.

• Basic Business Management;

• MSE business Development;

• Start your Business (SYB)

• Improve your Business (IYB)

• Creation of entrepreneurs through the formation of Enterprises (CEFE) Course for entrepreneurs;

• Hotel management;

• Tax levying and administration;

• Basic accounting

• Marketing and

• Based on the demand for training’s and in collaboration with other organizations, other business management trainings are conducted

Trade information and Advisory Service  [top]

• Collect, compile and disseminate market information.

• Prepare and disseminate project profiles;

• Provided local and foreign trade information through Trade Documentation Center;

Provide advisory on:

• Financial request

• Project ideas and selecting appropriate business environment;

• Import –Export Trade;

• Purchasing Raw Materials (Input)

• Market outdoor;

• Policies;

• Total quality management;

Marketing and publicizing Services  [top]

• Organizing exhibitions and trade fairs for Business Communities to publicize their products;

• Organizing seminars and workshops for members

• Facilitating ways and means for the exchange of experience and development of mutual relationship among enterprises; and

• Publicizing the outcome of international economic trade research activities and the like.

 Organisational Setup   [top]                                                                                       

Adama Chamber is led by a board of directors constituted from the Business community (private sector). The General assembly elects eleven people from amongst its membership for a period of two years to the Board of directors. The Board nominates a candidate for the position of Secretary General and submits it to the General assembly for approval. The secretary General is the chief executive officer of the Adama Chamber of Commerce and Sectorial Associations (ACCSA).

Human Resources  [top]

Professional Staff: ACCSA has planned to use new Organizational Structure while is composed of eight departments. But the chamber is still using this organizational Structure, which is composed of four functional departments. The activities of the chamber are all in corporate under this structure. Currently, ACCSA has 19 employees out of which 3 are professional staff and one is per time worker in contractual bases. Their work experience ranges from 2-12 years. All of them are involved the chamber's training and trade promotion activities.

Although the structure requires at least 5 more professional staff, the current financial problems do not allow recruiting additional staff.

Management: The General Assembly has the overall policy-making authority. The general Assembly meets annually to elect board members, approve annual work plans, bear Auditors report etc. The board has the executive powers of on the chamber's activities.

The secretary General is in charge of directing and controlling of the administrative of ACCSA which has also a management advisory committee, with main duties and responsibilities of advising the secretary General in important policy and programme issues including the preparation of annual work plans, budget drafts and project proposals. The committee is composed of department heads, staff service officers as well as a representative of workers.
 

 Sources of Income   [top]                                                                                           

The sources of revenue of the Adama Chamber of Commerce and Sictorial Associations are:

• Registration fee from new members;

• Annual membership fee; and

• Other service fees  

 Members and Membership   [top]                                                                            

The Chamber services the interests of over 11,000 businesses establish in Adama town and its surrounding Woredas. The Chamber's services cover about 8 towns in districts of Adama, Wonji Showa, Wonji, Awash Melkassa, Koka, Wolenchiti, Mojo and e.t.c.

Currently, the Chamber has 1422 members who have paid fees as of June 2004. Membership is open to all increased business and the membership fee is arranged according to the registered capital based on their license. The membership fee is categorized by registration & annual membership fees which are listed as follow.

If the business communities have licensed in transportation sector, they pay the registration and annual membership fee to the Chamber according to the number of site for public transport and the loading capacity for freight.

The Business Communities involved in public transportation sector pay chamber fees as follows.
 

The freight transportation sector Pay their fee according to the loading capacity of trucks
 

Members of Chamber for the year June 2004 are registered as follow.

 Partners and Stakeholders   [top]                                                                            

Adama Chamber's networking and partnership with different institutions locally and internationally is of the best experiences that enabled it to draw learning and entertain those benefits of networking and partnership. The emergence and establishing basis ignited the partnership and networking development primarily with members and the government.

The Chamber has a good working relationship with other trade and industry associations in its own area and at the country level. It has also a good working relationship with a number of international organizations helping it to acquire information publications such as DTC/ITC, UNDP, UNIDO, UNECA, GTZ, EU, Embassies, and Import Promotion Agencies to Developed Countries etc.

It is beyond doubt that the Networking and partnership has thus far achieved the good part of what have been planned by the organizations, which initiated ACCSA for further relation with others in the future, keeping the harmony and strong bandage with the previous.

Therefore, Chamber of commerce's closely works with the following institutions

Government institutions

• City Administration

• Telecommunication, Electric Power Authority & Water Service Authority

• Inland Revenue

• Trade & Transport Office

• Education Office

• Agricultural Research Institution and Banks & Insurances.

Non Government institutions

• Business Associations

• Business Community Members (Industrial Member, Banks, Insurance)

• Vision and F.G.A.

 Location and Office Facilities   [top]                                                                        

The Chamber is located at center of the town (Kebele 15), beside Adama Administration office, Adama Wereda Capacity Building office, Inland Revenue Offices, Court Office, Telecommunication office, Electric power & Water Service Authorities Office.

The Chamber has its own G+1 office building having adequate accommodation for exciting and planned staff and for services such as Trade Information and Documentation Center, Product Display Center, Committee Rooms etc.

In addition, ACCSA has a suitable conference hall to organize courses, workshops, seminars and even conferences.

[top]

Business Development Services (BDS) Forum
www.bds-forum.net edited by Dieter Gagel, freelance consultant, providing information on BDS strategies, networking and practical BDS case studies as well as business information on marketing, business planning, bookkeeping and cost calculation, import-export, trade fairs and access to finance.

New BDS Portal in Senegal www.senegal-entreprises.net .
One of the biggest national BDS portals world wide!

Value Chain Development in Ethiopia www.business-ethiopia.com