World Chambers Congress: Lessons in Success
The importance of digital has been brought into stark focus since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. From remote working tools to easy ecommerce and logistics, organizations which embraced new ways of working have evolved and grown. The Dubai Chamber of Commerce is gathering to share lessons learned and how to prep for an increasingly digital future.
Chambers of commerce: taking the lead
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the global body representing national chambers of commerce around the world, is sharing digital learning with its members. The 12th World Chambers Congress (WCC), and first since the pandemic began, will focus on the trends and opportunities arising in a post-Covid digital era, and how businesses prepare for them.
The ICC represents over 45 million businesses in over 100 countries. In fact, one-in-three organizations are members of a national chamber. National chambers work to forward the interests of members at a local level while feeding into the ICC’s overarching mission to promote international trade and investment as a driver for inclusive growth and global prosperity.
Lessons in future proofing
This year’s WCC is being hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The UAE was one of the first regions to reopen to international visitors since the world first locked down. Now, with nearly 90% of the population fully vaccinated, it continues to be a favorite with travelers seeking fine dining, unique cultural experiences, and business opportunities.
Over the course of three days, delegates to the congress will be able to listen to 80 speakers in over 40 sessions, all under the theme of Generation Next: Chambers 4.0. Delegates will share knowledge and best practice, attending sessions covering topics covering global collaboration and capitalizing on the digital revolution.
There’ll be a deep dive into how chambers can ready themselves for Chamber Model Innovation – the process of creating and nurturing innovative ecosystems which deliver economic competitiveness and socioeconomic development. This session aims to change theory into practice, helping chambers identify strengths and weaknesses to attain common goals as they move to the next stage of their innovation journey.
Digital natives are the subject of one of the most crucial sessions, in which attendees will learn about the changing expectations of Generation Z workers and consumers. Business resilience, continuity, and staying competitive in a highly engaged digital space will be key for organizations wanting not just to keep up, but to stay ahead.
Businesses are adapting to thrive
With over a quarter of a million members, the Dubai Chamber has created new channels to facilitate cooperation between the public and private sectors, ensuring more can be achieved by working together than in parallel. A prime example of this is Dubai Chamber’s Business Connect portal, which enables SMEs to benefit from support and resources and make informed decisions during the pandemic and beyond.
His Excellency Hamad Buamim, Dubai Chambers’ president and CEO, and chair of the ICC’s World Chambers Federation, said: “The strong interest we’ve seen in the lead up to the twelfth WCC reflects a growing awareness within the global chambers community, which is fast realizing the importance of investing in advanced technologies and embracing innovation to adapt to the evolving needs of member companies.”
The World Chambers Congress takes place in Dubai from November 23 to November 25. Follow the events and conversations from the Congress on social media using the hashtag #12WCC, and the ICC will be livestreaming the event at iccwbo.org.