World Chambers Congress

Asian-Pacific chambers bid to host 10th World Chambers Congress

  • 1 April 2014
ICC Management

Bidding has officially begun to host the 10th World Chambers Congress in 2017, upon its return to the Asia-Pacific region.

Four chambers have submitted their bids to host the next edition of the event: The Indian Chamber of Commerce, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sydney (NSW) Business Chamber and Zhejiang CCPIT/CCOIC (China Council for the Promotion of International Trade/China Chamber of International Commerce) all setting their sights on victory.

Australia and India return to the bidding table, having closely missed out to Malaysia for the 2009 Congress, while the Philippine and Zhejiang Chambers join bidding as new contenders.

Sydney Business Chamber – a division of the New South Wales (NSW) Chamber – submitted its bid back in January 2009 and Kolkata’s Indian Chamber of Commerce in December 2012. Both chambers are previous winners of the ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF) World Chambers Competition, with NSW having taken the title of Best Small Business Project in 2011 and 2013. Kolkata’s Indian Chamber won in 2003 for its Environment Management Centre.

NSW Business Chamber CEO Stephen Cartwright was re-elected in November 2013 to serve a second term on the WCF General Council. Sydney Business Chamber is now eyeing the potential benefits that hosting the Congress could bring to the region and to the global chamber movement, and believes that Australia is strategically placed to capitalize on the growth in the Asian Century.

The Indian Chamber of Commerce is equally confident that the significant comparative advantages and strengths of India, as well as its bright future, make the country an ideal location for the Congress to take place in.

Having been an ICC WCF member since 1998, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry believes that its experiences in hosting numerous local and international conventions and trade fairs with 20,000 extensive networks have been one of its greatest strengths.

CCPIT Zhejiang Provincial Committee takes pride in its 3,300 chambers and industrial institutions at home and abroad, saying that the Congress would provide a chance for these organizations to learn from and interact with their foreign counterparts, improving their respective services and better guiding their members in fulfilling their internationalization goals.

The Congress bidding judging panel will assess each candidate based on a wide range of criteria, from team strength and experience to financial resources and promotional intentions. Candidates are required to submit the first draft of their bid books to the WCF Council members one month before giving live presentations at the WCF General Council meeting to be held on 17 October 2014 in Tokyo. Candidates will present bids and be given the chance to explain why their destination is the best location to hold the Congress. Candidates will then present the final version of their bid books on 31 October 2014, with the result of the 2017 host to be announced by WCF Chairman Peter Mihok as early as November.

Held every two years in different regions of the world, the World Chambers Congress is a dynamic event that opens up new opportunities and interconnections for the global community of more than 12,000 chambers of commerce. It is the only event of its scale and scope that provides a unique opportunity to share best-practice experiences, develop networks and learn about new areas of innovation. The event also features the prestigious World Chambers Competition, which recognizes the most innovative projects undertaken by chambers of commerce and industry worldwide.

Ever since the first World Chambers Congress was held in Marseilles, France, in 1999, chambers from every continent have lined up as candidates to host this important event. WCF has received expressions of interest to host the Congress right up to 2023. Italy’s Torino Chamber of Commerce is now gearing up for the 9th Congress that will run from 10-12 June 2015.