Established in February 1998 the WCBDC focus on providing dedicated support for the entrepreneurs and place great emphasis on enterprise and supplier development.
The West Coast Business Development Centre is governed by an independent board comprising directors from the private sector, SMME support organisations, SMME’s through SMME structures, local, regional and provincial government, corporate stakeholders and co-opted members appointed to the board from time to time.
WHAT WE DO
The West Coast Business Development Centre is a non-for-profit organisation that offers enterprise development activities throughout the broader West Coast municipal area, with a footprint from Saldanha to Matzikama.OUR VISION
The West Coast Business Development Centre is a centre for education for start-up and small business support.OUR MISSION
To develop and enhance the business skills required for the growth of SMME’s through quality and cost-effective support services on a sustainable basis.WHAT CAN WE DO?
We create an enabling and nurturing environment for entrepreneurship for the SMME’s
How we can help you
- We assist the SMME’s from an idea to an established legal entity.
- We create an enabling environment for SMME’s, developing support and a culture of entrepreneurship.
- We develop and support new entrepreneurs through structured training programmes.
- The West Coast Business Development Centre motivates entrepreneurial individuals to develop their business plans and effectively start up their companies.

The Centre assists people who have a business dream, with the technical skills and mentoring support required to turn a dream into a reality.
Chairperson - Welmarie Coetzee

Our mission includes:
- fostering mutually beneficial partner relationships
- business skills training
- facilitation of business linkages
- business advice and counselling
- capacity building
- access to financial resources
- project management
The current Board of Directors of the West Coast Business Development Centre
Ms Welmarie Coetzee | Corporate Sector – Chairperson (Sea Harvest) |
Ms Titania Stefanus-Zincke | Corporate Sector (Lucky Star) |
Dr Ishmael Theletsane | SMME Support Sector – Deputy Chairperson (Naval Base) |
Dr Bernard van Nieuwenhuyzen | SMME Support Sector (Naval Base) |
Ms Linda Moss | SMME Representative (Saldanha) |
Mr Ruben Saul | SMME Representative (Matzikama) |
Mr Andre Isaacs | SMME Representative (Bergrivier) |
Mr Ngamla Siwisa | Private Sector (Saldanha Bay Black Business Chamber) |
Mr Etienne Bühr | Private Sector (West Coast Business Chamber) |
Ms Elize Steyn | Local Government Representative (Saldanha) |
Ms Aletta Van Sittert | Local Government Representative (Bergrivier) |
Mr Lionel Phillips | Local Government Representative (Matzikama) |
Members of the Board are elected at the annual general meeting of members and have a four year tenure.