Over 1,000 business and Chamber of Commerce delegates from around the world connected at the Windsor Expo Convention Center in Rio de Janiero, Brazil for the 11th World Chambers Congress which concluded on Friday 14 June 2019.

Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) Board Chairman, Mr Jay Bartlett is among international private sector representatives at the three-day event that brings together chamber leaders, business heads and key government figures.

Organised by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the ICC World Chambers Federation, and Brazilian Confederation of Trade and Business Association, the 11th World Chambers Congress took place from 12-14 June and examined some of the most pressing issues facing chambers and their respective business communities.

They include global trade reform, digital transformation, climate change and sustainable development, and workforce skills development.

“The Congress brings to us invaluable opportunities to extend our relationship with other private sector organisations, an event where we can exchange our experiences, challenges and find mutual objectives,” SICCI Chairman, Mr Bartlett, said.

“SICCI uses this opportunity to extend our relationship with the international business community and explore ways where Solomon Islands businesses can benefit from,” he added.

The Congress is hosted for the first time in Brazil under the theme “creating a shared future” and brings together chamber and business leaders from over 80 countries to discuss solutions that enable peace, prosperity and opportunity for all through private enterprise.

Previously held in Sydney in 2017, the Congress provides delegates a unique opportunity to gain insights from business leaders, chamber heads and policymakers from around the world.

SICCI was also invited to attend the previous World Chambers Congress in Sydney.

Discussion topics over the three days this week included:

• Fair and transparent markets
• Thriving in a low carbon economy
• Skills for the global economy of the future
• Blockchain
• Chambers as facilitators and partners
• The e-commerce revolution

The Congress is the only international forum for chamber leaders and professionals to share best-practices, exchange insights, develop networks, address the latest business issues affecting their communities and learn about new areas of innovation from chambers around the world.

Mr Bartlett said it is a valuable and dynamic forum facilitating the exchange of real-world ideas and best practices on both chamber and business activities.

With both formal and informal occasions to develop networks, the Congress is the ideal place to establish institutional ties and promote trade and investment opportunities from attending companies, countries and regions.

Featuring renowned speakers from all over the word, Congress delegates benefit from first-hand knowledge and diverse perspectives on a broad number of pertinent topics slated for discussion during the event’s extensive three-day programme.

ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO said: “The World Chambers Congress raises the collective voice of the global community of 12,000 chambers to address, from a grassroots perspective, global issues such as climate change and reforming the multilateral trading system, and to develop pioneering solutions for people and planet.”

Hamad Buamim, Chair of the ICC World Chambers Federation, said: “Collaboration is key to our shared future: Collaboration among chambers, collaboration between the private sector and governments, collaboration among nations.”

This flagship event is much more than just a chamber’s gathering. In convening the globe’s most prominent leaders and brightest minds, the congress aims to help transform the future of business.