Doha: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani will inaugurate the ICC-WCF 8th World Chambers Congress on April 23 at Qatar National Convention Centre.
The three-day biennial Congress, being held in the Middle East for the first time, features a list of high-profile speakers.
The range of experts and decision-makers include: Lakshmi Puri, Assistant Secretary-General, UN Women; Harold McGraw III, President and CEO, The McGraw-Hill Companies; Marc Bolland, CEO, Marks & Spencer; Joost Hiltermann, COO, International Crisis Group; Sergio Arzeni, Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs and Local Development, OECD; Ilker Baybars, Dean, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, among others.
Qatar Chamber, the host organisation, together with International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and World Chambers Federation (WCF) has made the 2013 Congress theme “Opportunities for All” a converging point for major global issues currently affecting business.
The speakers will address topics such as education and unemployment, SMEs and the world economy, women mean business, what business needs from trade and World Trade Organisation, youth entrepreneurship, and innovations and new services for chambers’ daily operations.
“While Doha is in the international spotlight as the centre of worldwide dialogue, we will strive to create a long-lasting legacy through ICC WCF 8th World Chambers Congress by pushing into new frontiers and re-examining business’ traditional role in economies,” said Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman Qatar Chamber and ICC Qatar.
Meanwhile, the politics of business will be discussed by another set of experts at the full-day ICC Business Trade Agenda Summit a day ahead of the 2013 Congress.
The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani will be joined by chamber leaders from the US, Europe, Asia and Africa, senior officials from OECD, WTO, ICC, World Bank and others, for four plenary sessions focused on shifting of global economy powers, 21st century trade, and domestic political support for trade.
The ICC Business World Trade Agenda initiative, launched in 2011 by ICC in partnership with the Qatar Chamber, aims to define a practical and forward-looking trade policy agenda that will contribute to economic growth and job creation, moving World Trade Organization (WTO) trade talks “beyond Doha”.
“As one of the oldest chambers in the region and after successfully propelling Qatari economy to be one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing in the world, Qatar Chamber is hosting the four-day gathering to bring together the global community of over 12,000 chambers, hundreds of multinational businesses and SMEs, and many influential world leaders to the region,” said Remy Rowhani, CEO Qatar Chamber and ICC Qatar.
One of the main highlights of the Doha Congress is the interactive Business Programme sponsored by Qatari Diar and Silatech with a focus on the region and Qatar through a series of panel sessions where key organisations such as Kahra Maa, Rail, Ashghal, Qatar National Food Security Program, amongst others, will present how their organisation are supporting the diversification of the economy and businesses accordingly to the National Vision 2030.
There will be a 10,000sqm exhibition space allowing companies from both Qatar and around the world to highlight their work and the new business opportunities.
The Peninsula
