Congress opens with record number of delegates
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| Korean President addresses record numbers attending Chambers Congress in Seoul |
Seoul, 7 June 2001 - The 2nd ICC World Chambers Congress has opened here to a record number of delegates from more than 85 countries.
Korean President, Kim Dae-Jung delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony, calling on an audience of more than 1,200 international business leaders to continue their work "building a dynamic global economy".
"It is deeply meaningful that so many business leaders have come together to share their experiences and wisdom," he said. "It is all the more so in light of the current uncertainty in the world economy.
"I hope this congress will provide momentum for the sustained growth of the global economy."
Speaking at a press conference after the opening ceremony, ICC President Richard McCormick said the Congress would be an important opportunity for chamber representatives to "exchange information and ideas".
"The aim of gatherings like these is for chambers to establish networks which can better serve them and their members in this increasingly inter-connected global economy," he said. "The days are long gone when chambers can operate in isolation. If they want to be successful and provide any kind of meaningful service to their members, they need to become a part of the global economy."
The Congress opening ceremony was also used as an occasion to announce a name change for the ICC's International Bureau of Chambers of Commerce (IBCC).
Chairman of IBCC, Avijit Mazumdar announced the IBCC would now operate under the moniker of ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF).
"It is only fitting in this increasingly globalized world that we properly reflect in our title the international diversity of our membership and activities," he said.
He furthermore celebrated the successful opening of the congress saying it had broken all records for a chambers conference.
"We have an unprecedented number of delegates registered for this congress," he said. "It has been a success even before it has properly begun."
Official Congress Website