World Chambers Congress Is Under Way

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World Chambers Congress Is Under Way

Business representatives from all over the world are in Seoul for talks to expand global business networking.

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry will host the 2nd World Chambers Congress at the COEX Convention Exhibition Center in southern Seoul on Thursday and Friday. The convention is co-hosted by the International Chamber of Commerce headquartered in Paris, France. Over 1,000 chamber leaders from nearly 100 countries are expected to participate.

The first World Chambers Congress was held in Marseille, France in October 1999, attended by 600 representatives of 240 chambers from 91 countries. The gathering is planned to be held every two years in different regions of the world.

The meeting will address practical ways in which chambers can serve, strengthen and support their member companies. A broad range of strategic issues will be discussed, including chamber structure, management and finance, the impact of globalization, working for small and medium businesses and e-business, according to the Korean host organization.

Founded in June, 1919, the International Chamber of Commerce has members in 133 countries. Korea joined in 1951.

Beside the primary objective of setting future directions for chambers' activities, the congress will also allow chambers to forge relationships and to participate more effectively in the global economy.

The Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a statement that it wants to bring the international network of chambers of commerce into the digital ago. "These activities will be key in reshaping the roles and functions of chambers and will serve to provide better services to our members that match the economic needs of the day," the chamber said, adding that providing value-added information technology and e-business services are among the most important chamber issues. At this congress, the Korean chamber plans to launch an initiative for membership database linkages. (Related article, below.) The chamber hopes that its initiative will give it a leg up in promoting international online trade with Korea.

The chamber funded the meeting by charging $500 per participant and inviting assistance from the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. The Asian Development Bank provided funds for the expenses here of the heads of chambers of commerce in 10 less developed countries.


Major Congress Events

Thursday, June 7

07:00 Registration (COEX)

10:00 - 10:30 Opening ceremony

10:30 - 11:20 Plenary session 1: "Role of Chambers in a Globalized World"

11:40 - 12:30 Plenary session 2: "Management for Chambers Tomorrow"

12:30 - 14:00 Lunch

14:00 - 15:30 Working sessions: "Special Needs of Chambers in Developing Countries," "Developing New Chamber Services," "Chambers and Dispute Resolution"

16:00 - 17:30 Plenary session 3: "Financing Issues for Chambers of Commerce"

17:30 - 19:00 IBCC steering committee session

18:00 Regional and national groups organize own functions



Friday, June 8

09:00 - 10:30 Plenary session 4: "IT and E-Business for Chambers"

11:00 - 12:30 Working sessions: "Changes to the Legal Status of Chambers," "Chamber Relations with Government" "Chamber Partnerships"

12:30 - 14:00 Lunch

14:00 - 15:30 Plenary session 5: "Chambers Working or SMEs"

16:00 - 17:00 Plenary session 6: "Worldwide Networking of Chambers"

17:00 - 17:30 Closing ceremony

19:00 - 21:00 Dinner, performance by Little Angels



by Kim Hyun-chul

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