By Rafiq Vayani
DUBAI: Dubai is attracting innovative and pioneering initiatives from chambers of commerce from around the world as it prepares to host the World Chambers Competition 2021, taking place during the 12th World Chambers Congress (12WCC) November 23-25, 2021.
The World Chambers Competition is the only global awards programme to identify and reward the most innovative, entrepreneurial solutions of chambers to today’s most pressing global challenges. The competition recognises and celebrates the achievements of these chambers while bringing their stories to a wider audience. In spotlighting the diversity and enterprise championed by the competing chambers, the competition aims to enable change to make the world a better place for people and planet.
ICC and its World Chambers Federation (WCF) have announced finalists of the 2021 World Chambers Competition. The 16 shortlisted chambers will present their initiatives during the 12th World Chambers Congress. Under four categories, 78 initiatives representing 33 countries were received for the 2021 edition of the World Chambers Competition. The total exceeds the number of entries received for the 2019 edition and shows the compelling and tireless efforts of chambers in the face of the current global landscape.
Finalists for the competition’s Best Digital Project category are: Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Munich and Upper Bavaria (Germany) – Cert4Trust: Blockchain-based validation of digital certificates and documents; Santiago Chamber of Commerce (Chile) – Resolución en Línea: Reconnecting businesses with consumers through online dispute resolution; Business West Chamber of Commerce (England) – Great British Food Programme; Lima Chamber of Commerce (Peru) – Digital Chambers: The New Age.
In the running for the Best Resilience Project: Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce (Luxembourg) – House of Entrepreneurship Luxembourg; Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Australia) – COVID-19 Support for Australian Businesses; Greater Des Moines Partnership (United States) – DSM Forward Playbooks; German-Russian Chamber of Commerce Abroad (Russia) – #ResilientTogether: Building resilience in turbulent times.
For Best Climate Action Project, four chambers of commerce were nominated, namely Eskisehir Chamber of Industry (Turkey) for its Secure Management Platform for Shared Process Resources (SHAREBOX); East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce (England) which will present its Chamber Low Carbon Project; Dublin Chamber of Commerce (Ireland) for the Dublin Chamber Sustainability Academy; and Voka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Belgium) for the Voka Sustainable Business Charter.
Competing for the Best Unconventional Project are: Styrian Chamber of Commerce (Austria) – Extended Reality Hub; Potsdam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Germany) – Schüfi: The App for Teen Entrepreneurs; Çorlu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Turkey) – The Foreign Trade Intelligence Centre; and Chamber of Commerce in Quito (Ecuador) – AWE: Academy for Women Entrepreneurs in Ecuador.
H.E. Hamad Buamim, President & CEO of Dubai Chamber and Chair of the ICC-World Chambers Federation described the World Chambers Competition as a source of innovation for the global chambers community as it showcases cutting-edge ideas and solutions that have helped chambers address new challenges and create added value for their members.
“We are encouraged by the tremendous response we saw to the competition this year, as well as the high calibre submissions received by chambers from all corners of the globe. The upcoming 12th World Chambers Congress in Dubai will
provide an ideal platform to showcase such game-changing initiatives that will raise the bar for chamber services and initiatives,” said H.E. Buamim.
An international jury, comprising ICC World Chambers Federation leadership along with representatives from transnational, national, and local chambers, is responsible for shortlisting category finalists.
The 2021 World Chambers Competition finalists will present their projects to delegates and judges attending the 12th World Chambers Congress—the largest global thought-leadership conference for chambers and their business members worldwide. Presentations will take place from 23-25 November with the winners announced on the final day of the event, 25 November. Taking place under the theme, “Generation Next: Chambers: 4.0”, this year’s Congress is set to be more collaborative and dynamic than ever. Register your place to gain the knowledge and skills required to turn digital disruption into opportunity and more. The upcoming Congress will be held during Expo 2020 Dubai, the first world expo to held in the MEASA region. The mega event represents an unprecedented opportunity for businesses of all sizes, international organisations and government entities from across the world, to come together to foster a more diversified and resilient global economy, inspire a vibrant business environment and drive sustainable growth.
