For the hundreds of business people gathered at the SAPCC Cell C Business Excellence Awards 2026, the evening offered more than recognition and celebration. It delivered a promise of practical change: a signed agreement between two chambers of commerce that both sides say will make it easier for their members to work, trade and invest across the border between South Africa and Mozambique.
Filipe Raposo, chairman of the South African Chamber of Business in Mozambique (SACBM), signed the memorandum of understanding alongside Rui Marto, executive director of the SAPCC. Dr Sonia Chembeze, SACBM chief executive, and Manuel Moutinho, SAPCC’s Administration and Protocols officer, witnessed the signing. For members of both organisations, the moment marked what the chambers describe as an important step towards strengthening institutional ties and creating real opportunities for businesses operating in both markets.
Additional reference context is available at https://clubofmozambique.com/news/sacbm-and-sapcc-sign-landmark-partnership-to-strengthen-business-cooperation-between-south-africa-and-mozambique/.
The gala itself, held under the SAPCC banner, brought together roughly 500 guests for an evening devoted to business excellence, leadership, entrepreneurship, Portuguese culture and the strength of the regional business community. Raposo and Chembeze attended on behalf of SACBM, an organisation whose members stand to benefit directly from the new arrangement.
Behind the ceremony lies a network with considerable reach. The SAPCC, founded in 2013, is a member-driven, non-profit organisation representing more than 2,000 members across Southern Africa. It is recognised by both Portuguese and South African authorities and plays an important role in fostering business relationships and promoting commercial opportunities. For entrepreneurs and companies within that membership, the agreement with SACBM is intended to translate institutional goodwill into concrete openings.
The agreed areas of cooperation are practical rather than abstract. They include trade missions and business delegations, joint events and networking platforms, a bilateral trade and investment forum, knowledge sharing and communications, and a shared commitment to regional growth. In other words, the partnership is designed to move beyond formal cooperation and deliver tangible benefits to members of both chambers: help in finding new markets, support in building strategic partnerships, and a contribution to sustainable economic growth.
Meanwhile, the signing reflected a shared commitment by SACBM and SAPCC to strengthen commercial relationships, facilitate cross-border investment and create new opportunities for their respective members. By combining the networks, experience and institutional reach of the two chambers, the partnership aims to give businesses on both sides of the border tools they can actually use. SACBM has said it looks forward to working closely with SAPCC to turn the agreement into concrete business opportunities and stronger economic ties between South Africa and Mozambique.
The evening around the signing carried its own weight for those present. Guests heard an inspiring address by Jorge Mendes of Cell C, a special video message from the Secretary of State for the Portuguese Communities, Dr Emídio Sousa, and remarks from the Ambassador of Portugal to South Africa, His Excellency Carlos Costa Neves. Acclaimed fadistas who travelled from Portugal provided entertainment, while ten prestigious awards recognised outstanding businesses, professionals, entrepreneurs and brands.
For the business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs in the room, many of whom operate across the South African and Mozambican markets, the combination of celebration and commitment captured what the chambers hope the partnership will become: not just a document signed at a gala, but a working relationship that opens doors, connects people and supports growth in both countries. Further details of the agreement and the event are available from the source coverage at https://clubofmozambique.com/news/sacbm-and-sapcc-sign-landmark-partnership-to-strengthen-business-cooperation-between-south-frica-and-mozambique/
The material for this article was provided by the South African Chamber of Business in Mozambique in a press release.