The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh recently celebrated its 30th anniversary with a grand dinner event at a city hotel.
The event brought together Excellencies, distinguished guests, dignitaries and members of the business community to commemorate three decades of remarkable achievements and contributions to the global business landscape.
The evening began with a video presentation that highlighted the rich history and activities of ICC Headquarters as well as ICC Bangladesh.
The presentation showcased ICC Bangladesh's journey since its inception in 1994, underscoring its pivotal role in fostering international trade, facilitating global business connections, and contributing to sustainable economic development.
Following the presentation, the programme featured a message from John Denton, ICC Secretary General, on behalf of ICC Chair Philippe Varin, which was read out by Ashraf Ahmed, the immediate past president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).
In his Message, Denton said “as you know, we – ICC – are a global institution founded over 100 years ago with a mandate to promote peace and prosperity through cross-border trade. A century later, we are the institutional representative of more than 45 million businesses in 170 countries, 70% of which are in the global south – with a common mission to make business work for everyone, every day and everywhere.”
He mentioned that “here in Bangladesh, and throughout its rich history, ICC Bangladesh has remained a steadfast member of the ICC network. The hard work of the team has seen Bangladeshi members participate in the proactive Banking Commission, leading the way on implementing and updating ICC rules and standards, attending conferences across the globe, and engaging with other national committees in the development of workshops in Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand, amongst others. This spirit of connection across our network is something we cherish as an organisation.”
“We have particularly valued the team’s approach to innovative opportunities, demonstrated through their work with the ICC Digital Standards Initiative and the recent workshops for Female Entrepreneurs.
These two areas, digital trade and economic inclusion, have been fundamental in Bangladesh’s impressive development over recent decades, and will continue to be so as we look forward.
The IMF estimates that the country could gain almost 40% of GDP by closing gender gaps in labour force participation, while the UN calculates that Bangladesh could gain an additional $600 million in export revenue by embracing digital trade processes. To see ICC Bangladesh at the forefront of these efforts brings me – us – great pride, and we stand ready to continue supporting the Bangladeshi private sector as a force for good for society.” he added.