Business
leader warns against protectionism danger in 1999
Paris,
1 January 1999 - The
incoming President of the International Chamber of Commerce, the world business
organization, today called on governments to resist protectionist pressures
generated by the current harsh economic climate in many parts of the world.
In a statement on assuming the ICC presidency,
Adnan Kassar, a prominent Lebanese banker, said protectionism was one of the
biggest dangers facing the world economy in 1999. "The lesson of history
is that such tendencies must not only be resisted but that when they appear
governments should strive with renewed vigour to open markets and further strengthen
the rules-based multilateral trading system."
Mr Kassar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of the Fransabank Group, said liberalization of international trade and investment
was the surest way to secure economic growth, more jobs and prosperity for all
nations. Further progress in freeing up markets would create business confidence.
"Such a policy will go a long way towards restoring growth and stability."
Mr Kassar said one of the main objectives of his
two-year presidency would be to mobilize the worldwide influence of ICC to ensure
that even more developing countries participate in the benefits of the global
economy.
The new President has been an active member of
ICC since the early 1970s and is a leading figure in the chamber of commerce
movement in the Arab world. He is Chairman of the General Union of Chambers
of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for the Arab countries, and President
of ICC’s national committee in Lebanon.
Mr Kas
sar takes over as head of ICC from Helmut
O. Maucher, Chairman of Nestl S.A. Mr Maucher remains a member of the ICC Presidency.
The new Vice-President is Richard D. McCormick, Chairman of the telecommunications
and data networking company, US West.
Interviewed
by the Financial Times on the achievements of his two years as President,
Mr Maucher said his main objective had been to make the voice of business heard
in global decision making. "We have established ICC as the preferred dialogue
partner for business with the United Nations and other international institutions".
ICC has more than 7,000 member companies and business
associations in 137 countries. Its services to business include the ICC International
Court of Arbitration, the world’s leading institution of its kind, and
the London-based ICC Commercial Crime Services. ICC rules and mechanisms for
the conduct of trade, including the standard trade definitions known as Incoterms,
are used daily throughout the world.