International Chamber of Commerce

(ICC)
The International Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit,
private international organization that works to promote
and support global trade and globalization.
It serves as an advocate of some world businesses in
the global economy, in the interests of economic growth,
job creation, and prosperity.
As a global business organization, made up of member
states, it helps the development of global outlooks on
business matters.
ICC has direct access to national governments
worldwide through its national committees among others.

Establishment:
The ICC was founded in 1919 to serve world
business by promoting trade and investment,
open markets for goods and services, and the
free flow of capital.
The organization's international secretariat was
established in Paris and the ICC's International
Court of Arbitration was created in 1923.
Initially representing the private sectors of
Belgium, Britain, France, Italy and the United
States, it expanded to represent worldwide
business organizations in around 140 countries.

Organization:
The ICC World Council:
It is a general assembly of a major
intergovernmental organization composed of
business executives.
National committees name delegates to the
Council.
Ten direct members may be invited to
participate.
It usually meets twice a year.
The Council elects the Chairman and ViceChairman for two-year terms.
The Council elects the Executive Board on the
Chairman's recommendation.

The Secretary General:

Heads the International Secretariat.
The Secretary General works with the
national committees to carry out ICC's
work programs and is appointed by the
World Council.
The ICC International Secretariat, is based
in Paris and is the operational arm of ICC.
It carries out the work programme
approved by the World Council, feeding
business views into intergovernmental
organizations.

The Executive Board:

It is responsible for implementing ICC
policy.
The Executive Board has between 15 and
30 members of both business leaders and
ex-officio members. They serve for three
years.

The National Committees:

They represent the ICC in their respective
countries.
They recommend to the ICC their respective
national business concerns in its policy
recommendations to governments and
international organizations.
There are established formal ICC structures in
over 90 countries. In countries where there is no
national committee, companies and
organizations such as chambers of commerce
and professional associations can become direct
members.
ICC has access to national governments through
its network of national committees

The Finance Committee:

It advices the Executive Board on all financial
matters.
It reviews the financial implications of ICC's
activities and supervises the flow of revenues
and expenses of the organization.
The Chairman is elected by the ICC World
Council.

Evaluation:
ICC International Court of Arbitration continues
to provide the most trusted system of
commercial arbitration in the world. Over the
past decade, the Court's workload has
considerably expanded.
With the launch of ICC's BASCAP (Business
Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy)
initiative, more than 130 companies and trade
associations are now actively engaged in a set
of projects designed to defeat the pirates and
increase public and political awareness of the
economic and social harm caused by this illegal
activity. BASCAP is using ICC's global media
network and national committee structure to
spread the word.