Gerard Worms Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce

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2 Together, a global network of chambers can realize hopes and tackle problems much more effectively than if individual chambers tried to survive alone. The World Chambers Congress strengthens regional and global ties among chamber leaders. We should build on these ties and forge a powerful united global force. With our worldwide commitment to the network, chambers can play an important role in the sound and sustainable development of the world economy. Gerard Worms Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce Chambers work tirelessly to address contemporary challenges facing business today. Only by working together, can we make sure that chambers of commerce from all parts of the world share and benefit from each other s skills and knowledge strengthen this incredible international and brand called a chamber of commerce. Rona Yircali Chair, ICC World Chambers Federation We must convince our members that if local businesses want to grow, their horizons must grow. This World Chambers Congress plays a crucial role in gearing up chambers of commerce to satisfy and go beyond the new needs of business. It increases global unity between chambers, opening new channels of dialogue, strengthening our services and the impact of our network. Peter Mihok Deputy Chair, ICC World Chambers Federation Qatar Chamber supports the noble aims of the International Chamber of Commerce and the World Chambers Federation in striving for peace and prosperity through world trade and investment. We are honoured to host this prestigious international gathering of business and chamber leaders, and look forward to the privilege of welcoming delegates to our country and the Middle East. I believe that the Congress in Doha will contribute importantly to the growth, progress and achievements of chambers and their members around the world. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassim Bin Mohammed Al-Thani Chairman, Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry

3 WORLD CHAMBERS CONGRESS CONGRESS HIGHLIGHTS The 8 th World Chambers Congress brings together chambers of commerce and their leaders from around the world to share, learn and build new networks of opportunity. Over four days, the Congress will feature an exciting programme featuring plenary and working sessions and networking opportunities, all designed to build a stronger global chamber community, fostering economic development and prosperity for all. Programme Gain insight from internationally renowned speakers through our plenary and workshop sessions. Speakers include leaders and experts from chambers of commerce, business and government. Under the theme Opportunities for all, the Congress will address topics at the heart of a chamber s local and international agenda: Education and unemployment Women in business Youth entrepreneurship SMEs and the world economy Services for chamber s daily operations World Chambers Competition The only global awards programme to recognize the most innovative projects undertaken by chambers of commerce and industry from around the world. Exhibition area A spacious exhibition area gives exhibitors an ideal forum to promote their activities, as well as trade and business opportunities in their region. One-on-one business meetings Connect with other delegates, exhibitors and local business leaders via our pre-arranged meetings at strategic locations throughout the Congress. 3

4 CONGRESS AT A GLANCE MONDAY 22 APRIL TUESDAY 23 APRIL Exhibition inauguration Plenary session Business programme ICC Business World Trade Agenda Lunch Competition Exhibition Coffee break Competition Opening ceremony Evening activities PAST CONGRESSES 1999 Marseille, France 2001 Seoul, Republic of Korea 4

5 WEDNESDAY 24 APRIL THURSDAY 25 APRIL Plenary session Plenary session Coffee e break Coffee break Competition Competition Lunch Exhibition Lunch Exhibition Plenary session Coffee break Coffee break Competition Evening activities World Chambers Competition award ceremony Closing ceremony 2003 Quebec City, Canada 2005 Durban, South Africa 2007 Istanbul, Turkey 2009 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2011 Mexico City, Mexico 5

6 AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST Held for the first time in the Middle East, the 8 th World Chambers Congress from April 2013 will be hosted by the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The State of Qatar is strategically located on the Arabian Gulf, attracting visitors for thousands of years as a crossroad of contrasting economies and cultures. Known as the pearl of the Middle East, Doha is surrounded by a breath-taking natural environment, as well as being one of the most stable political and economic systems in the region. VANCOUVER LOS ANGELES HOUSTON TORONTO CHICAGO BOSTON NEW YORK WASHINGTON DC MIAMI MONTREAL BUENOS AIRES RIO DE JANEIRO STOCKHOLM MOSCOW > 13 HOURS > 7 HOURS DUBLIN AMSTERDAM LONDON PRAGUE PARIS FRANKFURT VIENNA ZURICH ROME ISTANBUL ATHENS BEIRUT CASABLANCA DAMASCUS AMMAN ISLAMABAD CAIRO KUWAIT DOHA DUBAI MUSCAT DELHI JEDDAH MUMBAI ACCRA LAGOS ADDIS ABABA DAR ES SALAAM JOHANNESBURG DURBAN CAPE TOWN < 3 HOURS NAIROBI SEYCHELLES > 8 HOURS MALE MAURITIUS DHAKA BANGALORE COLOMBO BEIJING BANGKOK TAIPEI HONG KONG MANILA HO CHI MINH CITY KUALA LUMPUR SINGAPORE JAKARTA SEOUL TOKYO OSAKA SHANGHAI PERTH DARWIN ADELAIDE BRISBANE SYDNEY MELBOURNE AUCKLAND The World Chambers Congress has been an important part of CANACO s strategy to grow our organization and extend our global network. Hosting this Congress gave us the opportunity to learn more about your chamber, and develop trade and investment partnerships for our member companies. Lorenzo Ysasi, Chair, Organizing Committee Mexico City National Chamber of Commerce CHRISTCHURCH BUSINESS PROGRAMME AND ICC BUSINESS WORLD TRADE AGENDA Business programme Connecting business delegates with local and regional industries, our business programme is the commercial centrepiece of the Congress. Customized one-on-one meetings will help delegates can gain critical insight on trade and investment possibilities and opportunities worldwide through networking and learning. ICC Business World Trade Agenda ICC will host a World Business Summit to make recommendations on business priorities for a 21 st century agenda for world trade. Chambers are invited to participate in this high-profile summit to mobilize broad-based support for a proactive role for business in defining global trade priorities. 6

7 WORLD CHAMBERS COMPETITION 2013 The Competition is the only global awards programme recognizing the most innovative projects undertaken by chambers of commerce and industry from around the world. The Competition is a highlight of the Congress, giving international recognition to innovative projects undertaken by chambers around the world. It provides a unique opportunity for chambers to showcase originality and ingenuity, demonstrate determination to strengthen SMEs and improve their services to members. Competition categories for 2013 are: Best corporate social responsibility project Best international trade project Best small business project Best unconventional project Best youth entrepreneurship project For full details visit Winning a World Chambers Competition award brought us recognition from our partners at home and abroad. By setting the highest technical standards to qualify for the award, it has helped our chambers gain access to important actors in the public and private sectors alike. Every chamber looking to strenghten its entrepreneurship programmes should apply. Joseph Paul Dornelles Cairoli, President, The Confederation of Brazilian Commercial and Business Associations 7

8 EXHIBITION One of the most successful features of the Congress is our extensive exhibition area, a unique global platform to network and showcase your organization s products and services to decision-makers from chambers, corporations, as well as public sector institutions. Exhibiting at the Congress in Doha guarantees worldwide exposure to a wide range of chambers of commerce and business leaders. An ideal opportunity to: Target millions of businesses worldwide via the international chamber network. Chambers of commerce are synonymous with the voice of SMEs. Explore new partnerships and network opportunities with business and chamber leaders who can, in turn, work with you to attract new customers. Introduce your brand to more than 1,500 chamber leaders from over 100 countries. Present your products and services, your latest initiatives, extend your international network, and promote opportunities of trade and investment with your country, region and business community. Who will be present? Local, regional, national and international chamber groups. Federations of chambers, businesses, and associations and their members. Government agencies. Importers and exporters looking for new business opportunities. Financial institutions and professional service providers. For more information, visit 8

9 OFFICIAL AIRLINE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES A unique sponsorship opportunity Sponsoring the Congress is global branding. The Congress offers you an unparalleled opportunity to develop and strengthen your partnerships with and commitment to chambers of commerce around the globe. Sponsorship also highlights your allegiance by associating your brand with chamber leaders and their member companies worldwide. Sponsor profile Supporting the Congress can benefit your organization: Chambers: Attract interest in your chamber s business members, promote trade and investment in your region, or establish a role in leading issues. Public and private companies: Connect with SMEs, foster economic growth and development, and engage in issues addressed in a session or plenary theme. NGOs: Foster local economic growth particularly in developing countries and engage in issues addressed in a session or plenary theme. Sponsor offer There are many ways to sponsor: 1 The Congress: profiling your organization before, during and after the Congress. 2 The Competition: ensuring winners have the funds to develop their projects. 3 The Delegates: facilitating attendance of participants from developing countries. You may also choose to sponsor a specific session of interest or a keynote speaker. We provide made-tomeasure programmes to fit your specific marketing and branding goals. We offer Congress sponsorship options at all funding levels. Visit to find out more. 9

10 DOHA, JEWEL OF THE MIDDLE EAST Description Looking at the flickering lights of the dhows on the harbour as the moon rises over the Gulf, one is hardpressed to remember that underneath the surface of this serene and pleasant and hospitable city, beats the heart of one of the world s most dynamic economies. Chosen as UNESCO s 2010 Arab City of Culture, Doha is situated on a crescent shaped bay anchored at its seafront centre by I.M. Pei s stunning Museum of Islamic Art, which floats above the Gulf waters on its own man-made island. Access Doha is accessible easily and directly from all the continents of the world. Doha International Airport is served by the national carrier Qatar Airways and 33 other international airlines. The new Doha International Airport will open in December 2012 with a projected capacity of 50 million passengers a year. Venue Opened on 4 December 2011, Qatar National Convention Centre is an unparalleled convention facility, boasting iconic design and cutting edge facilities in a world-first green-technology venue. The venue features a conference hall of 4,000-seats theatre style, a 2,300-seat lyric style three-tier theatre and a total of 52 flexible meetings rooms to accommodate a wide range of events. It also houses 40,000 square metres of exhibition space over nine halls. QNCC is proudly managed by AEG Ogden, one of the largest facility and entertainment management specialists in the world. For more information visit: Accommodation Befitting a country with the fastest growing economy in the world and a burgeoning modern capital city visited by globe-spanning business people and tourists, Doha is well serviced with world-class hotels at various price levels. Visas Nationals of the following countries can apply for a simple 30 day entry visa covering both business and leisure travel upon arrival to Qatar or at their local embassy: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, US, Vatican. Payment is made upon arrival at the immigration desk. A hotel booking or the presence of relatives in the country is required. All other visas are processed online at the Ministry of Interior s website ( with payment by credit card. Working language The working language of the Congress will be English. Arrangements for interpretation into other languages may be made according to need and numbers. Pre/post-Congress tours and companion activities An array of cultural, sightseeing and sporting activities will be offered to all participants and companions. Some Congress activities, such as the gala dinner, will be open to companions. 10

11 BUSINESS IN QATAR Guided by the Qatar National Vision 2030, Qatar has produced one of the world s most stellar economic performances over the last decade. By careful and measured development of its extensive oil and gas resources coupled with substantial investment in transport infrastructure, education, science, technology, health and tourism Qatar has created a dynamic base to support continued exceptional economic performance. The government is heavily involved in Qatar s economy, although it strongly encourages international investment and promotes investment, innovation, open trade and competition and access to resources that will continue to bring long-term economic development to Qatar and much-needed energy to the world s growing economies. Government initiatives to attract the flow of foreign capital into the State can be attributed to various investment incentives. The open market policy adopted by the government permits investment opportunities and allows unrestricted travel and movement of funds. CULTURAL PROGRAMME Selected highlights Newly discovered by world travellers as a top tourist destination, Qatar offers a rich and fascinating mix of Arabic culture combined with distinguished modernist expressions. Museum of Islamic Art Containing a vast collection, covering 14 centuries of Muslim culture. The National Museum Showcasing Qatari art, jewellery, costumes, and traditions such as falconry. Souk Waqif The place to shop, have a meal or relax in a cafe. The Pearl-Qatar A riviera-style man-made island and one of the Middle East s most glamorous addresses. Katara Doha s new cultural village. The Desert A fun way to spend the day enjoying the country s beautiful sand dunes. Camel race track The ideal place to see how camels are trained or view a race in progress. Oryx viewing The Oryx is the national animal of Qatar. Located 45 kilometres west of Doha, the Arabian Oryx farm, in a natural habitat, is the only one of its kind. 11

12 ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the world business organization representing enterprises from all sectors in every part of the world. The fundamental mission of ICC is to promote trade and investment across frontiers and help businesses meet challenges and opportunities of globalization. ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF) WCF was established by ICC in 1951 to be the advocate of its chamber of commerce members worldwide. WCF strengthens links between these chambers, enabling each to improve performance and discover new products and services to offer their members. Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry (QCCI) Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry is one of the oldest chambers in the GCC and will celebrate its jubilee in Designed to support the burgeoning business climate in the country, the chamber was a governmental body until 1990 when it was granted its own autonomy with the legal authority to represent all the private sector s activities in the State of Qatar. By providing key support services, networking opportunities and leadership, the Chamber has helped oversee one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing economies in the world. As the sole chamber in Qatar, QCCI utilizes its well-established connections in the region and beyond to promote free and expanded trade and create new business opportunities. CONTACTS International Chamber of Commerce World Chambers Federation 38, Cours Albert 1 er, Paris, France Tel: +33 (0) Fax: +33 (0) wcf@iccwbo.org Website: Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry PO box 402 Doha, State of Qatar Tel Fax wcc@qcci.org Website: