The tension was biting as all eyes turned to the screens to see which country would stage the best show. But these viewers weren't among the millions of sports fans fired up with the World Cup fever that is currently gripping the planet.
At ICC headquarters last week, four Asian cities showed off their best features in bids to host the 6th World Chambers Congress in 2009. In a packed room, members of ICC's World Chambers Federation steering committee, from all parts of the world, heard proposals from Brisbane (Australia), New Delhi (India), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Dushanbe (Tajikistan). Each put forward the case why their chamber, their city and their country were the ideal partner and location for the congress.
Held every two years in different regions of the world, the World Chambers Congress is the only international forum for chamber executives worldwide to share best-practice experience, develop networks and learn about new areas of innovation from other chambers as they face the challenge of remaining relevant to companies in their region.
The last time the congress took place in the Asia Pacific region was in Seoul in 2001 when it was co-hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Bidding presentations for 2009 focused on strengths in the following areas:
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Previous international event experience;
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Advantages of location with regard to business opportunities, personal travel, hotels and conference facilities;
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Outreach to regional and national chamber and business communities;
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Government and chamber community support at a local, regional and national level.
The people taking part in the presentations were as interesting and varied as the countries themselves. Video messages from Rafidah Aziz, Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry, and Peter Beattie, Premier of Queensland, Australia, were played as part of those countries' presentations. Australia and Malaysia both included their French ambassador as part of their delegation. The Australian presentation opened with a musical performance by Australian Aborigine Adrian Burragubba who played the didgeridoo.
Previous congresses have been held in Marseilles (France), Seoul (South Korea), Quebec City (Canada) and Durban (South Africa). In 2007, the congress will be held in Istanbul on 4-6 July. Asia's turn is in 2009. The Mexico City Chamber of Commerce has already announced its intent to bid for 2011 when the congress will be hosted in the Americas. Other chambers from Argentina, Brazil, and the United States are also in discussions with WCF. Interest to host the event stretches as far as 2015.
During the next few months, members of WCF's Congress selection committee, made up of leading chambers from various countries around the world, will pore over the bidding documents for 2009. The four candidates will have to wait until November this year for a decision, when the winning bid will be confirmed by the World Chambers Federation's steering committee meeting in New Delhi.
WCF welcomes its chamber of commerce members to send in their feedback regarding the Congress candidates.
Click here to see a list of delegations
Click here to view presentations
