International Chamber of Commerce(ICC) in Focus

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) founded in 1919 to serve world business by promoting trade and investment, open markets for goods and services, and the free flow of capital. The organization's international secretariat established in Paris and the ICC's International Court of Arbitration created in 1923.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC; French: Chambre de commerce internationale) is the largest, most representative business organization in the world. It is over 45 million members in over 100 countries have interests spanning every sector of private enterprise.

ICC has three main activities: rule setting, dispute resolution, and policy advocacy. Because its member companies and associations are themselves engaged in international business, ICC has unrivalled authority in making rules that govern the conduct of business across borders. Although these rules are voluntary, observed in countless thousands of transactions every day and have become part of international trade.

A world network of national committees in over 100 countries advocates business priorities at national and regional level. More than 3,000 experts drawn from ICC's member companies feed their knowledge and experience into creating the ICC stance on specific business issues.

ICC supports the work of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and many other intergovernmental bodies, both international and regional, such as G20 on behalf of international business. ICC was the first organization granted general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and UN Observer’s Status.

...........Membership

There are two ways to become a member of ICC:

1. Through affiliation with an ICC national committee or group.
2. By direct membership with the ICC International Secretariat when a national committee/group has not yet been established in the country/territory.

Establishment of the World Chambers Federation (WCF)

In 1951, ICC established the World Chambers Federation (WCF), formerly the International Bureau of Chambers of Commerce. WCF is the unique global forum uniting the worldwide network of more than 12,000 chambers of commerce and industry. It aims to facilitate the exchange of best practice and the development of new global products and services for chambers, and foster international partnerships between chambers and other stakeholders to help local businesses grow. WCF is a non-political, non-governmental body, with its membership comprising local, regional, national, bilateral and transnational chambers of commerce, as well as public-law and private-law chambers.

ICC and its chamber members following a resolution at the conclusion of the World Congress of Chambers of Commerce (Rome 1950) established WCF. At its inaugural committee meeting held in Paris in December 1950, WCF was to first known as the International Information Bureau of Chambers of Commerce. As its role expanded and grew during the 1960s, its name changed to become the International Bureau of Chambers of Commerce and by June 2001, it became known as the World Chambers Federation.

With a history spanning over 400 years, chambers today exist in almost every country and business community around the world. Chambers of Commerce and Industry can be defined as:

• Multi-sector organizations that accept members without sectorial restrictions.
• Not pursuing political goals (i.e., they do not participate in elections or nominate candidates for political positions).
• Acting as a voice for the business community (i.e., they advocate for business and promote legislation that is advantageous to business).
• Facilitating the role of chambers of commerce as local business support agencies.
• Administering the international guarantee chain of Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission (ATA) Carnets, the Customs document allowing the duty-free and tax-free temporary import of goods.
• Improving the capacity of chambers in issuing certificates of origin, including the management of an International CO chain.
• World Chambers Network – a website platform with services including a Global Chamber Directory, Business Opportunities Promotion Service Chamber Trust Business Accreditation Programme.
• Chamber Professional and institutional development services

WCF also organizes the World Chambers Congress every two years in a different region of the world. The Congress is the only international forum for chamber leaders and professionals to share best practices, exchange insights, develop networks, address the latest business issues affecting their communities, and learn about new areas of innovation from chambers around the world.

During the Congress, WCF also announces the winners of World Chambers Competition, the only global awards program to recognize the most innovative projects undertaken by chambers of commerce and industry from around the world.

For more views, observations or Inquiries kindly visit our website ; www.tradenigeria.org

OR:

 Trade Nigeria Offices @:
Abuja: Edo House Suite 5-05, fifth floor, Central Business District, Abuja.

Rivers State : No 6 Omerelu Street, GRA phase 1 Port Harcourt.

Kano ; Bargery Road Bompai GRA Kano.
Lagos: Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA Lagos State. 
tel; 08161261262,  09080088327,  07010882314,  09074569808,  08120466664. 

Trade Nigeria

      Grow * Connect * Expand