The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has appointed the Head of the Trade Finance Program at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Steven Beck, as the Senior Advisor to the ICC Banking Commission.
Martina Bianchini, Director of EU Government Affairs and Public Policy for the Dow Chemical Company and Chair of the ICC Task Force on Green Economy, led ICC’s delegation to the 2011 UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Ministerial and Governing Council meetings. The meetings, held in Nairobi from February 17–24, brought together environment ministers from over 80 countries to consider critical next steps in preparing the environmental input to the Rio+20 Conference in 2012. Issues under discussion included new measures on chemicals, e-waste and heavy metals, and options to strengthen international environmental government institutions.
The ICC Business Action to Support the Information Society (BASIS) initiative has reaffirmed its support for the unique Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and urged that participation remains open to all and that discussions on Internet policy take development issues into consideration.
The call came at the first round of open consultations for the biggest Internet-policy related event of the year, which got underway today in Geneva.
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) World Chambers of Federation (WCF) commends the recent five-day training programme, jointly organized by the Senegalese Customs Administration and the Dakar Chamber of Commerce, on the ATA Carnet System, the passport for goods that facilitates international trade.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to implement the ATA Carnet System starting 1 April, bringing to 69 the number of countries using this international system, reducing paperwork and costs for businesses travelling with goods.
The world economic climate indicator has achieved a new high since 2007 levels, indicating that economic activity overall is picking up, according to the quarterly World Economic Survey, from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Munich-based Ifo Institute for Economic Research, released today.
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has appointed the director of Global Logistics Policy at Pfizer, Anthony Barone, as Vice-Chair for its Committee on Customs and Trade Regulations.
In his role as Vice-Chair, Mr Barone is set to advance the committee’s work programme, as well as to provide support to the committee’s Chair Selig Merber, Vice President of GE International,in developing consensus within the committee on policy positions and statements.
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has released a new report that provides compelling evidence of the value of IP and the benefits provided by strong enforcement of IP regulations to protect against IP theft.
A new report released today by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) indicates that the global economic and social impacts of counterfeiting and piracy will reach US$1.7 trillion by 2015 and put 2.5 million legitimate jobs at risk each year. The report was launched at the 6th Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy, during a panel session on economic impacts.
The study, Intellectual Property: Powerhouse for Innovation and Economic Growth, is the result of a collaborative effort on the part of ICC BASCAP and the ICC Commission on Intellectual Property. The report was launched during the 6th Global Congress on Counterfeiting and explores the benefits of intellectual property (IP) protection in strengthening national economies, driving innovation and technology, fostering new ideas, and enhancing society and culture.
Over 900 delegates from intergovernmental organizations, national governments, enforcement agencies and business from more than 100 countries convened today in Paris to address the serious global impact of the growing trade in counterfeit and pirated goods and the need to build respect for intellectual property in a balanced and sustainable way. The Sixth Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy, meeting on February 2-3, 2011, is organized under the High Patronage of the President of the French Republic.
Following outcry in December 2010 at a decision to exclude all non-governmental stakeholders from its working group on improvements to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) has confirmed the names of five business representatives who have been invited to serve as special guests in the CSTD Chair’s special working group on IGF improvements.
The Chairman of ICC, Victor K. Fung, has described the ICC Research Foundation as the development laboratory for issues of concern to ICC and its National Committees around the world. The chief aim of the Foundation is to support research which provides useful data, analysis and policy options which can be of use to ICC members in addressing issues of common concern, including global trade, trade finance, employment, climate change.
The International Chamber of Commerce participated today in a high-level conference in Brussels jointly organized by the Council of Europe and European Commission to mark the occasion of Data Protection Day 2011.
The conference, Data protection 30 years later: from European to international standards, aimed to raise awareness on data protection and promote it as a fundamental right. It featured welcome messages from Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Thorbjorn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
As discussions on global economic recovery take centre stage at the annual Davos gathering of political and business leaders, ICC is driving home the message that international trade is crucial to restoring the health of the global economy.
The World Chambers Federation (WCF) today announced the results of its first ever election to select General Council members. More than a third of WCF’s members, from its global membership from more than 120 countries voted for their 20 preferred representatives in online elections.
More people were taken hostage at sea in 2010 than in any year on record, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) global piracy report disclosed today. Pirates captured 1,181 seafarers and killed eight. A total of 53 ships were hijacked.
A recent incident could signal a worrying development in the tactics employed by Somali pirates, according to the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
Following years of suspense, the Mexican Customs administration (SAT – Servicio de Administracion Tributaria) has appointed CANACO (the Mexico City Chamber of Commerce) as the national guaranteeing and issuing organization for ATA Carnets in Mexico.
Meeting at UN Headquarters in New York, business leaders in Business Action for Sustainable Development 2012 (BASD 2012) and representatives of UN Member States discussed the crucial role business must play in the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, commonly known as the Rio+20 Earth Summit. In addition Chad Holliday, the Chair of BASD 2012 and Chairman of Bank of America, addressed the plenary session of the first Intersessional of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012.