The “raison d’être” of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry has been questioned in recent years. In several countries their role has been reduced, forgetting their importance for economic development, internationalization, training and promotion of the territory.

Why are Chambers of Commerce so important? Because they are formed and directed by entrepreneurs. And they are the ones that have the broadest knowledge about what the real needs are, because of their international and supra-sectoral nature. They have the advantage of speaking with the authority that emanates from companies in all sectors and from all parts of the world. Chambers are key actors, as institutions responsible for promoting economic activity and promoting business cooperation and investment, which transforms them into agents of cohesion and peace. But they need the participation of all the actors of society and public authorities.

This characteristic, representing the private sector at the regional level, is due to the particular organization in the form of a dense network of Chambers in Ibero-America, the Mediterranean, Africa, Asia or Europe. In this sense, regional associations such as ASCAME or Eurochambers are cooperation platforms of the first order.

Therefore, the Chambers cover the whole territory, they know the business needs, they act as intermediaries with the administrations, they are structured in associations that can be coordinated to reinforce the interests of a wide territory, and they have close contact with the companies. They are useful corporations in a global world.

The Chambers of Commerce, working together with supranational organizations, are key instruments for the successful coordination of north-south business activities and promote three levels of cooperation: Development aid, business cooperation through fairs and missions and regional cooperation as interlocutors before multilateral organizations.

The challenge is to continue being a reference of the national, regional and international business world with the addition of providing quality services and the exercise of representation before public institutions. In this sense, its role in achieving the commercial opening of certain areas of the world is sometimes more useful than diplomacy itself.

Trade is a powerful force for peace and prosperity, and Chambers are the best network for doing business, their role is fundamental. But a new approach is necessary to face the new challenges.

01/08/2019