Trade & investment
ICC WCF welcomes Beirut & Mount Lebanon Chamber to the International CO Accreditation Chain
The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon (CCIA-BML) and the Varese Chamber of Commerce (Italy) are the latest members to join the International Certificate of Origin (CO) Accreditation Chain.
The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon (CCIA-BML) and the Varese Chamber of Commerce (Italy) were announced as the newest members of the International Certificate of Origin (CO) Accreditation Chain during a virtual meeting of the International CO Council.
With their newly established status as accredited members of the International CO Accreditation Chain, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon and the Varese Chamber of Commerce now benefit from the use of ICC’s internationally-recognised ICC CO label. This certified mark assures banks, businesses, customs administrations and traders that their COs have been issued according to stringent and harmonised certification standards, based on ICC World Chambers Federation (ICC WCF) International CO Guidelines.
Commenting on the new membership, Rabih Sabra, Director General of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, said:
“This significant achievement is the fruit of our active collaboration with ICC WCF. It reflects our commitment to being a lead partner in the global trade network by adopting the highest standards and acquiring an internationally recognised quality label, which also provides secure handling of our members’ information.”
The Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon (CCIA-BML) is a non-profit private organisation working for the public sector. Established in 1887, the CCIA-BML is the largest of the four Lebanese Chambers that operate based on Ministerial Decree-Law No 36/67 enacted in 1967. The chambers are the sole providers of consular services to members, which include certification of origin and authentication of commercial documents. The membership roster of the chamber consists of approximately 15,000 enterprises, mainly located in the area of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, where the primary economic activity is concentrated.
This news follows the recent unveiling of the ICC-ESCWA Centre of Entrepreneurship in Beirut. Launched by ICC and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), this Centre of Entrepreneurship has been established to inspire entrepreneurial innovation and improve the business environment. The accreditation of CCIA-BML comes as welcome news and continues ICC’s momentum and commitment to providing SMEs – in Lebanon and beyond – with the necessary resources and tools to survive and thrive.
Created by ICC WCF in 2012, the CO Chain comprises 684 chambers from 27 countries and is based on international guidelines to which chambers adhere voluntarily. It represents ICC WCF’s commitment to promoting the use of universal certification standards and processes better to serve the global trading community as a whole.
