Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry secures 2025 World Chambers Congress bid

Organised by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and its World Chambers Federation (WCF), the World Chambers Congress is a unique thought leadership forum for chamber leaders and business professionals to collaborate on new projects, exchange ideas on best-practices, expand global networks and discuss the latest issues facing the private sector worldwide.

Every two years, this global event rotates between Africa and the Middle East, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe to ensure wide and diverse regional participation from chamber and business communities around the world. The 14th World Chambers Congress will mark the fourth time that the event has been held in the Asia-Pacific Region, having previously taken place in Seoul in 2001, Kuala Lumpur in 2009 and Sydney in 2017.

Commenting on the success of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ICC Chair Maria Fernanda Garza said: “The World Chambers Congress is a one-of-a-kind business dialogue that promotes exchange of best practices to make business work for everyone, everywhere.  I trust the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will host and co-organise a flagship event for ESG opportunities worldwide.”

Melbourne, the second biggest city of Australia will host Congress delegates in September 2025. The proposed theme is “ESG change starts here”, as the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry firmly believes in the power of ESG criteria for prosperous cooperation among nations. Speaking on the importance of the chamber contributions, ICC WCF’s Chair Nicolás Uribe Rueda said:

Speaking on the importance of the chamber contributions, ICC WCF’s Chair Nicolás Uribe Rueda said: “Under the unprecedented world economic order we find ourselves in, chamber leaders are called upon to guide a new generation of more conscious businesses that seek to create value beyond financial profits. Therefore, now more than ever, we play a crucial role in coming together to shape the post-pandemic world for good through dialogue and cooperation. And we believe there is no better way to achieve this than through the World Chambers Congress.

For this reason, after a thorough bidding process, I congratulate the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for being selected as the co-organizer of the 14th World Chambers Congress in 2025. I’m convinced they will deliver a world-class event that will mark the perfect occasion to rethink how businesses of all sizes need to incorporate ESG criteria in their practices.

 I would also like to congratulate the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) for its outstanding candidacy and its commitment to the success of the ICC WCF. Given the high level of interest from the jury members, ICC WCF and CCOIC will discuss future opportunities to work together and welcome the chamber community in China.”

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce was in the race to co-organise the Congress alongside the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC), a strong contender to the 14WCC bidding process.

The next edition of the World Chambers Congress is set to take place from 21-23 June 2023 in Geneva and is co-organised by the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services.