Israeli business leaders shared their views with ICC Secretary General Guy Sebban when he visited Tel Aviv last week. During their meetings the group exchanged perspectives on trade, the information society, enforcement of intellectual property rights and many other current topics.
The visit was hosted by Oren Shahor, chairman of the Israeli National Committee of ICC, and provided Mr Sebban with the opportunity to meet Israeli Foreign Ministry Director-General Ron Prosor, Israeli binational Chambers of Commerce chief Amon Dotan, a variety of company heads and several bankers.
Mr Sebban stressed the importance ICC places on promoting trade and investment across frontiers, protecting intellectual property rights so that innovation and creativity may thrive and improving access to information and communication technologies in the developing world to foster growth.
"The International Chamber of Commerce is a body that has earned great influence in international trade and economic relations, and enjoys say with the United Nations, OECD, and WTO," Federation of Israeli Chambers President Uriel Lynn told the Jerusalem Post, which reported on Mr Sebban's visit. The Jerusalem Post is Israel's most widely-read English daily.
Mr Sebban also mentioned the importance of the next World Chambers Congress, which will take place in July 2007 in Istanbul. Organized by ICC's World Chambers Federation, the congress is held in a different city every two years and attracts thousands of members of chambers of commerce from around the world to make contacts and exchange ideas with their international counterparts.
"Israeli businessmen and professionals have been enthusiastic participants in the work groups of past conferences, particularly those focusing on hi-tech and telecommunications," Mr Sebban said.