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In his message to ICC member companies throughout the world, the new Chairman, Jean-René Fourtou, says ICC's national committees are the basis of the organization and deserve greater recognition. "Ultimately, the quality of ICC products depends on the health of the national committees."

For Secretary General Maria Livanos Cattaui, foremost among ICC's priorities in 2003 will be the Doha Trade Round as it enters a critical phase. She notes that most ICC policy commissions - grouping business experts on all issues relevant to international business - are involved in formulating business views and recommendations for the trade negotiators in Geneva.

The report says that ICC rule-making, a fundamental ICC contribution to world business, will continue apace in 2003, with new model contracts being issued and the introduction of standards of banking practice to guide to application of ICC rules governing letters of credit.

A major issue for ICC trade facilitation specialists will be to achieve the closest cooperation with governments to ensure that heightened anti-terrorist measures affecting international transport are effective without impeding trade.

Responding to membership demand, ICC has stepped up its work on ethical issues facing business and the role of companies in the societies in which they operate. A section of the report outlines the work of three new commissions that reflect this shift in emphasis - on Business in Society, Biosociety and Anti-corruption.

ICC arbitration meanwhile, goes from strength to strength. The number of cases submitted to the ICC International Court of Arbitration continues to grow. Over 590 cases were received in 2002, making it another record year. In December alone, the Court registered 80 new cases, an all-time record for a single month.

In today's climate of increased risk in a high-tech global economy, ICC Commercial Crime Services reports that it is coping with a rush of demands for timely due diligence checks on every aspect of proposed transaction.

Creating the conditions in which e-business can flourish by means of self-regulation continues to be a priority for ICC. Objectives include integrity of transaction, a balance between privacy protection and freedom and communication, the ability to transmit secure messages, and intellectual property protection.

The online edition of the annual report features a moving time-line that chronicles all the main ICC activities last year month by month - and a line that sets out the main ICC events scheduled in 2003.

The world business organization in 2003