The Philippines-Southern Africa Business Council (PSABC) is one of the councils under the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).  It started in April 2004 through the initiatives of Ambassador Virgilio Reyes, Philippine Ambassador to Pretoria, South Africa.  This idea came into being when Ms. Nandi Mandela, granddaughter of RSA President Nelson Mandela came to Manila with Ambassador Reyes.

The establishment of the council aims to promote trade and investment among and between the Philippines and other countries in Southern Africa namely Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Council is headed by the late Mr. Jose L. Cortes, Jr., Chairman of Pacific Cement Corporation while Mr. Joseph Issifu of Bataan Strategies Technologies Inc. was assigned as Vice President. Other officers of the councils are:

• Atty. Virginia Castillo of Global Leaders in Development Inc. – Legal Council
• Mr. Nicanor Villasenor of Phil. Indo Trading Corp. – Director
• Ms. Corazon Zamora of Golden Legacy Financing Corp. – Treasurer
• Mr. Enrico Ocampo of Trinity Life & Health – DirectorMr. Michael Adams of MAA Securities, Ltd. - Director

In early May 2004, Mr. Cortes hosted a dinner for Mr. Henk Kruger of the South African Commission at Makati Shangri-la Hotel in Makati City with Mr. Miguel B. Varela, PCCI Chairman Emeritus and Chair for International Relations.

On 19 May 2004, the Council met with the group of Mr. Francis Moloi of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa during their visit to Manila at Via Mare Restaurant in Greenbelt 3.  Their visit aims to study the feasibility of establishing a South African Embassy in Manila.

Last June 2004, the council organized an Exploratory Mission to South Africa wherein a total of 6 companies & organizations participated and represented the following sectors: rail & port, arms & ammunition, garments, food, coal, events management & services.

In August 2004, a meeting with Mr. Cliff Warren of PSITEK Ltd. was arranged at EDSA Shangrila Hotel to discuss the possibility of selling their telephone products to major telecom companies in the Philippines.

Mr. Yunus Carrim Ismail, Member of the Parliament House of RSA and Chairperson of Public Enterprises Portfolio Committee visited Manila to attend a conference.  Mr. Cortes met with him on 30 November 2004 at the Coffee shop of Renaissance Hotel in Makati City to discuss matters regarding the development and privatization of the rail and energy sector in the Philippines.  A meeting with MERALCO and Sen. Rodolfo Biazon was also arranged through the initiatives of the council.

On 10 December 2004, Mr. Joseph Issifu, Vice President of the PSABC hosted lunch in honor of Mr. Eugene Grogler, Counselor of the Department of Foreign Affairs of South Africa at Masas Restaurant at Greenbelt II in Makati City.  Mr. Grogler was tasked by the South African Government to set-up the Embassy here in Manila.  Another meeting was set with Mr. Jose L. Cortes, Jr. and Mr. Nicanor Villaseñor last 17 December 2004 at the Coffee shop of Makati Shangrila Hotel.

On the third week of January 2005, the council in cooperation with the South African Embassy here in Manila will jointly organize a Consultation Workshop to help identify areas of cooperation and to serve as a vehicle to exchange views on how to strengthen RP-RSA relations.

Other future plans of the council are to organize a solo exhibition of African products here in Manila and to join the South African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX) in South Africa in order to promote Philippine products and services in the African continent.