ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman (5th from left) led a 10-Member Delegation to the 14th World Chambers Congress of ICC held in Melbourne, Australia recently. Also seen in the picture (from right to left) are : Matiur Rahman, Chairman & Managing Director, Uttara Group of Companies; A. K. Azad, Vice President, ICC Bangladesh; Engr. Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed, Managing Director, Saiham Cotton Mills Limited; Kutubuddin Ahmed, Chairman, Envoy Textiles;  Ataur Rahman, Secretary General, ICCB; Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), Managing Director, Evince Group; Ms. Simeen Rahman, CEO, Transcom Group; Tanvir Ahmed, Managing Director, Green Textile Limited and Mohammed Abdul Jabbar, Managing Director, DBL Group. 

A 11-member delegation from ICC Bangladesh, led by President MahbuburRahman attended the 14th World Chamber Congress (WCC) held in Melbourne on  2-4 September.This premier global forum-organized by the ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF), in partnership with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)- brought together over 1,000 Business, Chamber and Political leaders from more than 100 countries. The event, held biennially, provided  an unmatched platform for exchanging best practices, sharing market insights, fostering cross-border networks, and introducing innovations shaping today’s business landscape.

 The theme of the Congress  was “Business, Chambers, Government: Partners for Prosperity”, underscoring the collaborative potential among Businesses, Chambers of Commerce and Governments to drive sustained economic growth and opportunity. The Key focus areas of the Congress were addressing geopolitical shifts, clean energy transitions, digital leadership, life sciences, workforce evolution, and resilience in global trade. 

Ms. Jacinta Allan MP Premier of Victoria delivered the keynote address and shared hre thoughts on various global issues. She is the longest-serving female Minister in Victorian history and became Premier in 2023.Mr. PaulGuerra, the Chief Executive of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomed the delegates attending g the 14th WCC.

The  opening session of the 14th WCC was  addressed by  ICC Chair Philippe Varin; ICC Secretary  General John W.H. Denton AO;  MrRifatHisarcıklıoğlu, WCF Chairand President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), Mr. Adrian Kloeden, President of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. .Mark Birrell AM President, a member of the Board of the Australian Chamber of Commerce& Industry, Transurban Limited (ASX:TCL) and  Ms. Nola Watson,  Chair of ICC Australia and a former World Chambers Federation Vice-Chair for Oceania and South East Asia. 

Mr. Tanvir Ahmed, Managing Director of Green Textile& Executive Board Member of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce& Industries (MCCI), Dhaka was invited as a Speaker at the Focus Session 1: Simplifying sustainability reporting: Turning cost and confusion into opportunity.  Mr. Ahmed presented a video and explained how Envoy Textiles Ltd. became the world’s first LEED Platinum-Certified Denim Mill in the world; how  the factory has earned the Platinum Award for denim factories and also how this impacts relationships up and down the supply chain. .  The other two speakers of the Session moderated by Melbourne based journalist and co-anchor of Nine’s 6pm news Alicia Loxley were Mr. MalteHeyne, Chief Executive Officer of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce & Board Member of ICC Germany as well as chair of the Task Force on Digitalization of the World Chambers Federation and Ms.Françoise Merit, Chief Financial Officer of  Endeavour Energy and Chair of the French Foreign Trade Advisory Board .

In the framework of the Congress, the WCF arranged the  World Chambers Competition which was  participated by 21 WCF Chamber Members from around the World. The objective of the Competition  was to highlight tthe success of local initiatives with the aim to inspire the creation of pioneering and beneficial chamber solutions for business communities all over the world. This year’s Compaction had five categories: Best green transition project; Best collaboration of chambers, business and government project; Best chamber innovation project; Best diversity and inclusion project; and Best out-of-the-box project. ICC Bangladesh Secretary General AtaurRahman was a Judge for the selection of the Best-out-of-the-box project.  A special awards ceremony was held on 4 Septemberduring the Congress Gala Dinner andthe winners were presented with Award Crest. 

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce will be the co-host  15th World Chamber Congress of the World Chamber Federation of ICC to be held in Toronto, Canada in 2027.

The Bangladesh Delegation included: ICC Bangladesh  Vice President A. K. Azad,  ICC Bangladesh Executive Board Member Anwar-Ul-AlamChowdhury (Parvez), Kutubuddin Ahmed and . SimeenRahman; Mr. Mohd. Arshad Ali, Managing Director, The Merchants Limited; Mr. Mohammed Abdul Jabbar, Managing Director, DBL Group; Engr. Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed, Managing Director, Saiham Cotton Mills Limited;Mr. Matiur Rahman, Chairman & Managing Director, Uttara Group of Companies; Mr. Tanvir Ahmed, Managing Director, Green Textile Limited andICC Bangaldfesh Secretary General  Ataur Rahman.