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The International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh marked its 30th anniversary with a grand dinner meeting at a city hotel recently, said a press release.

The programme featured a message from John Denton, ICC secretary general, on behalf of ICC chair Philippe Varin, which was read out by Ashraf Ahmed, immediate past president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In the message John Denton said, ‘As you know, we – ICC – are a global institution founded over 100 years ago with a mandate to promote peace and prosperity through cross-border trade. A century later, we are the institutional representative of more than 45 million businesses in 170 countries, 70 per cent of which are in the global south – with a common mission to make business work for everyone, every day and everywhere.’

Denton mentioned, ‘Here in Bangladesh, and throughout its rich history, ICC Bangladesh has remained a steadfast member of the ICC network. The hard work of the team has seen Bangladeshi members participate in the proactive banking commission, leading the way on implementing and updating ICC rules and standards, attending conferences across the globe, and engaging with other national committees in the development of workshops in Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand, amongst others.’

This spirit of connection across our network is something we cherish as an organisation.’

‘We have particularly valued the team’s approach to innovative opportunities, demonstrated through their work with the ICC Digital Standards Initiative and the recent workshops for Female Entrepreneurs. These two areas, digital trade and economic inclusion, have been fundamental in Bangladesh’s impressive development over recent decades, and will continue to be so as we look forwards. The IMF estimates that the country could gain almost 40 per cent of GDP by closing gender gaps in labour force participation, while the UN calculates that Bangladesh could gain an additional $600 million in export revenue by embracing digital trade processes. To see ICC Bangladesh at the forefront of these efforts brings me – us – great pride, and we stand ready to continue supporting the Bangladeshi private sector as a force for good for society.’ he added.