Announced at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), which took place in Baku from 6-9 November, the partnership will leverage ICC’s global and diverse business network to ensure greater business participation and, most of all, awareness.

“The launch of our new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) programme will dramatically increase the need for ICANN to work with businesses all over the world,” said ICANN Chief Executive Officer Fadi Chehade. “To serve them, we need to expand our outreach, so we have agreed to set up engagement frameworks with both the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO). Our hope is that by utilizing their existing networks we can engage in a constructive dialogue.”

“ICANN needs to broaden and deepen its dialogue with businesses around the world and our members have much to contribute to the debate around the future needs of business on the Internet,” said ICC Secretary General Jean-Guy Carrier. “I appreciate Mr Chehade’s openness and readiness to strengthen our already productive relationship and substantive engagement in ICANN”.

Mr Chehade was delighted with the energetic support from partners during the IGF meeting and thanked them for their openness and willingness to work together. “I am confident that creating the mechanism for detailed on-going engagement will do much to help ICANN achieve its goals for the entire community,” said Chehade. “I hope to create similar activities with many other partners – those already involved in ICANN and those with whom we need to build relationships for the first time.”

The partnership is in line with ICC’s belief that stakeholders must collaborate more fully in order to bring about the positive and informed policy developments needed to deliver open trade and Internet investment to enhance future economic growth and maintain the free flow of information online.

In an opening speech to IGF participants Mr Carrier underscored the importance of fostering dialogue, building relationships and bringing together diverse stakeholders, to help solve issues of common concern.

For more information visit the ICC Digital Economy Commission and ICC Business Action to Support the Information Society (BASIS)