ICC’s World Chambers Federation has announced categories for its 2009 World Chambers Competition.

The biennial World Chambers Competition is the only global awards programme to recognize the most innovative projects launched by chambers of commerce and industry from all over the world.

The Competition gives chambers a unique opportunity to showcase originality, demonstrate their resolve to strengthen small- and medium-sized enterprises, and exhibit their innovation in delivering member services.

A number of new categories have been added to continue the aim of the World Chambers Competition – to stimulate entrepreneurial creativity and inspire other chambers.

This year’s categories are:

• Best Unconventional Project
• Best Small Business Project
• Best International Project
• Best Networking Project

As in past years, a special recognition award will be given for the best project from a chamber of a developing country.

"The World Chambers Competition has become the highlight of the Congress and is poised once again to be one of the most popular sessions next year in Malaysia," said Rona Yircali, World Chambers Federation Chair. "We look forward to receiving entries from chambers both large and small, and from developed and least developed countries."

A panel of international judges will face the challenge of short-listing four finalists for each of the categories. Finalists will present their projects in person to the jury as part of the 6th World Chambers Congress on 3-5 June 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Winners will be announced during an award ceremony scheduled for the last day of the Congress.

In 2007, finalists and winners of the World Chambers Competition came from chambers in countries as diverse as Anguilla, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Brazil, Canada, Germany and Sri Lanka. Winning projects included capacity-building programmes, human resource training centres, membership recruitment techniques, and disaster business relief courses.

“We were particularly pleased to receive an award as we are a very small chamber of only 1,100 members,” said Madan Lal Joshi, Past President of the former award winning Narayangah Chamber of Commerce. “Presenting our project at the Congress gave us a wonderful opportunity to learn from chambers around the world.”

Entries for the 2009 edition of the World Chambers Competition are due 1 March 2009.

To learn more about the rules, awards categories and submitting your project, visit:  www.worldchamberscompetition.com 

To learn more about the World Chambers Congress, please visit:  www.KL2009.com