The task for world business - to rebuild confidence after terrorist attack
By Richard D. McCormick
President of the
International Chamber of Commerce
 |
| McCormick: "We must rebuild confidence" |
Denver, Colorado, 21 September 2001 - Within an hour of the destruction of the World Trade Centre towers, the fax machine in my U.S. office was whirring with messages from around the world.
From Morocco: "We have been extremely shocked by the tragedysympathize wholeheartedly with you and pray that God may assist the American people in this painful ordeal."
From Russia: "We deeply grieve over the innocent victims, their families and friends. This is a shared tragedy for us all."
From Thailand: "Our condolences on the tragedy that has happened in your country, and best wishes for your recovery. We also suffer, since we have several government and banking offices in the WTC building."
The stack of messages continues to grow, from friends I've met in my role as President of the International Chamber of Commerce, the world business organization with members in 142 countries.
Interestingly, several of them have mentioned that the organization's founders, back in the aftermath of World War I, called themselves "merchants of peace."
And that's exactly what business people need to be, as we work now to rebuild confidence in the world's economy - and to strengthen business's contributions to human well-being.
Business people everywhere must resolve to:
- provide all possible aid to relief and recovery efforts;
- take concerted steps to boost consumer and business confidence, to make sure this tragedy does not push us into global recession;
- work with national governments to shore up international financial institutions;
- cooperate with governments around the world to combat the scourge of terrorism and the forces that feed it, to ensure that such attacks never happen again.
The collapse of the World Trade Centre needn't foreshadow darker days for world trade itself. Indeed, the tragic loss of life in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania underscored the responsibility of business people to do everything we can to help people, both in the U.S. and around the world.
We must, of course, help the victims of terrorism as they deal with their immediate tragedies.
But, beyond that, companies everywhere must resolve to expand the delivery of products, services, jobs and opportunities to people everywhere - especially in the developing countries, where expanded markets and capital investments are the best cures for the poverty and desperation that provide a fertile breeding ground for terrorism.
In short, business people must recognize the social importance of what we do. By building the world's economy and strengthening the relationships that grow from trade, we are helping create a better, more harmonious world for all of us.
We are, and must be, "merchants of peace."
Business reactions
</>