Key Takeaways from the WCF Europe & Asia Summit

The ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF) Europe & Asia Summit in Istanbul on October 15-16, 2024, gathered business leaders, policymakers, and chamber representatives from across the globe to tackle pressing issues in sustainability, technology, and economic transformation. The theme of the summit was "A Collaborative Approach to Climate Action" which provided information on the latest developments in climate change.

ICC Chair announces "One Click" Initiative

One of the standout moments of the day was the unveiling of the ICC’s new One Click initiative by Philippe Varin, ICC Chair. One Click is a gateway to trade tools, solutions and  guides to export and grow globally, allowing chambers to provide tailored services to their members. This initiative would enhance operational efficiency and make it easier for businesses to navigate the complexities of international trade in a digitized world, and be a game-changer in how chambers support businesses in today’s fast-paced, tech-driven environment.

Chamber Pulse: A Global Perspective on Economic and Climate Challenges

Another highlight of the summit was the introduction of the Chamber Pulse survey, which captured the perspectives of senior executives on key economic and climate issues. The survey results, based on responses from over 200 chambers of commerce worldwide, revealed pressing concerns about the impact of climate change on business operations and the need for chambers to lead in driving sustainable development.

The economies represented in the survey account for 90% of global GDP, underscoring the weight of these findings. Respondents emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships and climate finance, calling on chambers to play a central role in facilitating these collaborations. The Chamber Pulse provided vital insights into how chambers can align their strategies to meet global sustainability targets while supporting local businesses. Some of the main constraints highlighted are labour shortage, inflation, geopolitical tensions and taxation.

Artificial Intelligence is seen as both a risk and an opportunity. Following the publication of the survey, we asked one of our interviewees, Boyd Stough from Attune AI, to give us their perspective about the applications of AI in the chamber industry. Stay tuned next week to follow up on this.

14th World Chambers Congress: A Call for Global Participation

In a passionate pitch to the global audience, Paul Guerra, CEO of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce, extended an invitation to the 14th World Chambers Congress (WCC), to be held in Melbourne, Australia. Guerra outlined the exciting opportunities that the 2025 WCC will present, from high-level discussions on global trade trends to networking sessions designed to foster collaboration among chambers and their members. He emphasized Melbourne’s role as a hub for innovation and business excellence, positioning the 14th WCC as a must-attend event for chamber leaders worldwide.

Hand-Over Ceremony: Kenya to Host the WCF Africa Summit in April 2025

In a symbolic hand-over ceremony to the host of the 2025 WCF Africa Summit, which will be held in Kenya, and hosted by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Erick Rutto delivered a compelling speech by inviting the audience to take part in the next Regional Summit, following the speech of M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, the President of TOBB and Chair of WCF. The hand-over marked a pivotal moment, as the African continent continues to rise as a key player in global trade and innovation. The Regional Summit is expected to address the unique challenges and opportunities facing African chambers, with a focus on sustainable growth and cross-border cooperation. We conducted an interview with Dr Rutto afterwards, where he shared his vision for the summit, to be published soon.

Chamber News:

• Call for expressions of interest: USAID EDGE Fund 2025

• Thomas J. Donohue, former U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO, passed away at 86. Source

• Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy publishes its 2024 Startup Guide. Source

• Launch of the Canada-ASEAN Chamber of Commerce. Source

• ICC DSI launches digital trade reliability assessment tool. Source 

• Lisa Isnard appointed new Secretary General of BECI. Source 

• U.S. Chamber Announces David Goeckeler As New Chair of the U.S.-Japan Business Council. Source

• Turkmenistan, Mongolia ink series of agreements. Source

• Launch of the Swiss-Kosovo Chamber of Commerce. Source 

• Dubai Chamber of Commerce concludes Sustainability Week with 526 business community representatives. Source

Publications

• ICC launches One Click, a gateway to trade tools, solutions and  guides to export and grow globally. Read more

• COP16: Business views on a multilateral benefit sharing mechanism. Read more 

• Chamber Pulse: Global markets, local landscapes. Read more 

• Eurochambres published its 68th newsletter issue. Read more 

• Business Europe: How to turn Europe into an SME superpower. Read more 

Events

• MEDAWEEK Barcelona, October 29th Discover

• Connecting European Chambers, 9–10 December 2024. Discover

• World Chambers Congress, 2-4 September 2025. Discover

Podcast of the week

Every week, we publish a new podcast episode from the chamber world, in partnership with Brandon Burton’s Chamber Chat Podcast, a podcast for chamber professionals.

👉️ Listen to the latest episode: Chamberpad with Houssem Touil and don’t forget to subscribe and listen on your favourite platform!