The new council will meet on a bi-monthly basis, where they will discuss the main issues affecting businesses throughout the South East Wales region and how these might be tackled through the Chamber’s activities.

The council will provide a channel through which Chamber members can raise any issues, concerns or ideas; helping to shape the Chamber’s policy development and service offering to ensure that it always remains relevant to the needs of the local business community.

James Emery, managing director of COS and chairman of the South Wales Chamber of Commerce’s Cardiff council, says: "I am incredibly honoured to find myself the first Chairman of the Cardiff council for the new South Wales Chamber of Commerce, and hugely excited at the year ahead of me. It is a challenging time for business, and there has never been a greater need for a dynamic Chamber to serve South Wales with meaningful, effective business support, and quality networking opportunities.

“One of my first priorities will be to welcome back former Chamber members from Cardiff and the wider capital region, and help return the membership to its previous level.”

“The new council is committed to the creation of a fresh, dynamic, and different Chamber, which aims to help sustain and grow a vibrant economy in Wales, and we are open to suggestions from the Welsh business community as to what type of events they would like to see from us over the forthcoming months.”