The South African Netherlands Chamber of Commerce was established in 1992 by its founding members, with the goal to promote the trade and investment between the Netherlands and South Africa

The launch and subsequent growth of SANEC has been an outstanding success story. The growth reflects the rapid development of bilateral trade between South Africa and the Netherlands. In these boosting economic relations, SANEC has played a very active role in close co-operation with business, government and other Trade Promotion Organisations.

Mission Statement
The aim of the South African - Netherlands Chamber of Commerce is to foster business relations between South Africa and The Netherlands and thus to achieve closer economic ties and a better mutual understanding to the benefit of both countries. More specifically, its objective is to promote increased exports, imports, business services, tourism and investments in close cooperation with and support of its members and clients. Although registered as a non-profit organisation, SANEC operates on commercial principles.
SANEC also aims to promote South Africa as a springboard for Dutch companies into Sub-Saharan Africa and for the Netherlands to act as a gateway for South African companies wishing to enter the European Community.

Apart from networking functions, like breakfast meetings and the Annual Trade and Investment Dinners, SANEC also runs an efficient networking and business information service for both trade delegations and individual businessmen visiting the two countries (matchmaking). SANEC regularly conducts major market research for business groups in Southern Africa and Europe and organises between 6 and 10 trade and investment delegations with individual matchmaking on an annual basis. Participating in several trade fairs in both countries, SANEC promotes business relations between the two countries pro actively. With workshops and briefing sessions, SANEC informs its members and network relations on investment and trade opportunities, about changes in legislation and best practice for business in BEE and HIV/AIDS issues. SANEC continued its export drive from South Africa to the Netherlands and has a number of long-term representations from public and private promotion bodies and holds the secretariat for the South African Netherlands Transport Forum (SANTF).

SANEC has offices in the Hague in the Netherlands and Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa, currently consisting out of a 13 person strong team. At this moment SANEC has over 400 members, including those on the Board of Directors and Trustees. SANEC has extended its operations to the Western Cape in South Africa since 2003 and is actively promoting trade and investment through a representative office in Cape Town.