World Chambers Federation

ICC WCF and CCOIC commit to Silk Road Economic Belt cooperation

  • 15 May 2014
ICC World Chambers

ICC and the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) have signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen collaboration and cooperation among chambers of commerce operating within the New Silk Road Economic Belt.

Proposed by the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, the new agreement, to be implemented through ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF), aims to forge closer economic ties in the Euro-Asia region, home to more than 3 billion people.

CCOIC put forward its proposal for a Silk Road Economic Belt Collaboration Initiative to establish collaboration and cooperation between chambers along the historic trade route at the last meeting of the WCF General Council in February 2014.

The collaboration initiative comprises three main elements: the Silk Road International Expo, the Silk Road Expo Park and the E-Silk Road, an online, cross-border electronic business platform.

Under the terms of the cooperation agreement ICC WCF will raise awareness of Collaboration Initiative events as well as business and cultural opportunities among its worldwide network of over 6 million companies, chambers of commerce and business associations in more than 130 countries.

Yesterday’s signing of the cooperation agreement is ICC’s most recent effort to leverage synergies and augment collaboration between ICC and CCOIC in line with commitments outlined in a memorandum of understanding signed in April 2012.

ICC Secretary General Jean-Guy Carrier said: “We very much look forward to working further with CCOIC to help businesses and chambers in the Silk Road belt realize the opportunities of an increasingly integrated global economy.”

A formal signing ceremony took place on the opening day of the Third World Business Leaders Conference and ICC Asia-Pacific CEO Forum in Kunshan which concludes 15 May.