Overview on

Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI)

Chamber House, 38,Agrabad C/A, Chittagong,Bangladesh. P.O.Box No.481 PABX: 880-31-713366 (4 lines), Fax: 880-31-710183 E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected], Website: www.chittagongchamber.com

Introduction: The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI) is the largest and most vibrant Chamber of Bangladesh. This pioneer Chamber of the country was incepted in 1959 and incorporated by Registrar of Joint Stock Company under the legal clout of Companies Act, VII of 1913 on 6th July 1963. Like other Chambers, it consists of firms, companies and corporate bodies engaged in trade, commerce, industry, agriculture, manufacturing etc. The basic objective of Chittagong Chamber is to promote and protect the trade, commerce & industry of Bangladesh in general and those of Chittagong in particular, and also to enable the government and other authorities to perform these functions by rendering assistance, information and advice. Membership: The Chamber has 5000+ members categorized into four classes namely Associate, Ordinary, Group and Town Association. The Chamber represents the prime maritime port city and commercial capital of the country, endowed with countrys biggest industrial base and highest business activities. Management: A Board of Directors comprising one President two Vice-Presidents and 21 Directors who are elected by the members manages the chamber. The Board of Directors is assisted by a number of standing Sub-Committees on various trade related affairs and full-fledged Secretariat. Basic Objective: The basic objective of Chittagong Chamber is to promote and protect the trade, commerce & industry of Bangladesh in general and those of Chittagong in particular, and also to enable the government and other authorities to perform these functions by rendering assistance, information and advice. Other Objective: 1) 2) To encourage the development and progress of the Port and Town of Chittagong. To watch over and protect the general commercial interests of Bangladesh or any part thereof and the interests of persons engaged in trade, commerce or industry in Bangladesh and in particular in Chittagong. To collect and circulate statistics and other information relating to trade, commerce and industry to members. To arbitrate in settlement of disputes arising out of commercial transactions between parties willing or agreeing to abide by the judgment and decision of the Chamber. To promote or oppose legislative and other measures affecting trade, commerce and industry. To establish just and equitable principles in trade, commerce and industry.

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To form a code or codes or practices to simplify and facilitate transaction of business. To maintain uniformity in rules, regulations and usages of trade, commerce and industry. To maintain liaison with other trade organizations whether incorporated or not for the exchange of information, opinion or help. To run a Licensed Measurers Department and such other departments including those relating to exports, imports, industries, and certificates of origin, statistics, publicity and publications as may be thought necessary or expedient. To do all such other things as may be conducive to the extension of trade, commerce, industry or incidental to the attainment of the above objects or any of them.

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Range of Services/Functions: Policy Advocacy Policy Advocacy is one of the most important functions of the Chamber. To perform it effectively, presently 21 different Sub-Committees are there to review various problems the entrepreneurs have to face frequently. The Sub-Committees are: 1) LICENSED MEASURERS DEPARTMENT 2) FINANCE, INSURANCE & BANKING 3) PORT & SHIPPING 4) IMPORTERS 5) EXPORTERS 6) POLICY 7) LABOUR 8) LIGHTERAGE AND INLAND WATER TRANSPORT 9) FOOD GRAIN, SALT & OIL SEEDS 10) INDUSTRIALISTS 11) BUILDING MATERIALS 12) TAXATION 13) JUTE AND TEXTILE 14) SMALL & COTTAGE INDUSTRY 15) TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATION 16) INTERNAL TRADE 17) WOMAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT 18) ENVIRONMENT & TOURISM 19)ENERGY, POWER, TELECOM AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT 20)ICT 21)RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING With these sub committees, the Chamber prepare suggestions and recommendations on various policies and issues having impact on countrys trade, commerce, industry, investment and economy as a whole and send those to various ministries and, departments of the government, local governments departments and authorities as well as to national and local bodies as on request or on self motivation for the sustainable growth and development of the economy. The Chamber always actively participates in

preparing countrys position paper on various bilateral, regional and multilateral business and trade agreements and issues. Trade Intelligence: Chamber receives various trade inquiries from home and abroad and these are circulated regularly to the members through Weekly Circular Service, over telephone, fax, letters and personal call. Commercial Reference Library: With a large number of up-to-date trade directories, catalogues, Trade Journals, weeklies, monthly magazines from home and abroad, government publications, etc., the Chamber has been providing free library service to its members. Export Promotion and Import Facilities: Chamber provides information on market demand of commodities to exporters and importers and advises members on marketing possibilities at home and abroad, maintaining liaison with international trade promotion organization like ITC, ICC, and EU Trade Commission etc. Arbitration: Chamber arbitrates disputes arising out of commercial transactions between parties willing to abide by the judgment and decision of the Chamber. Weighment and Measurement Service: Authorized by the Government, the Chamber through its Licensed Measurers Department (LMD) provides weighment and measurement services to the exporters and importers of the country. The service facilities the bulk exporter to determine the actual quantity of their goods and exporters to pay actual format of their goods meant for export. Dissemination of Information: All important development concerning, the business community including Government notifications, SROs, FE circulars and public notices relevant to business are distributed free of charge to the members regularly. Certificate of Origin: The Chamber is authorized to issue Certificate of origin to any registered company dealing with trading or manufacturing of local goods or products meant for export. Publications: A regular newsletter which contains current SME statistics, information on international trade opportunity and fairs & exhibitions, chamber news etc., is published. Besides an annual Trade Directory named as Chittagong Trade Directory is also published regularly. Counseling Session: Chamber organizes regular counseling session to make the potential and new entrepreneurs aware and knowledgeable about the threat & opportunity and prospects, potential and problems associated in present days business to help them take right decision on the matter. Organizing Training Courses/Workshops/ seminars etc:

Chamber regularly organizes training courses, seminars & workshops on various sectors and sub sectors as well as on other relevant important business issues and members are benefited by participating in those workshops & seminars. It also conducts courses on regular basis on various entrepreneurial and managerial aspects, tools, techniques and on national and international rules, regulations and compliance criteria tremendously affecting trade and business, to help the entrepreneurs and business executives to well equip to encounter any challenges and expand business smoothly. Some courses are conducted by Chambers own initiative and some are launched in association with other relevant national / international organizations. Research/Sub-sectoral Studies: RD&T Cell of the Chamber regularly compiles trade statistics on Bangladesh's trading partners, captures pertinent data on the domestic economy and prepares profiles of foreign markets as well. Sub-sectoral studies on various growth sectors are also conducted whenever felt necessary. Surveys form another important aspect of research work. Chittagong International Trade Fair (CITF): Since 1991 CCCI organizes industrial fairs named as Technology Exposition every year to promote the local manufacturers and the SME's in particular. But form 1997, this Fair has got an international exposure with a number of foreign participation and become known as Chittagong International Trade Fair (CITF). CITF has now become a big event in promoting countries products and services. Now the Trade Fair has emerged as the biggest trade fair of the country in the private sector and become a unique Rendezvous of local and international buyers and sellers. Trade and Investment Missions to and from CCCI: The Chamber has been sponsoring regularly a good number of trade and investment missions to various countries since its inception, for the development of the countrys international trade with particular emphasis on export market diversification and attraction of FDI. It has also been receiving a good number trade delegation from abroad. The exchange of these trade delegations has been immensely contributing to increased international trade of the country. Participation in Foreign Trade Fair: Chamber regularly leads its members to participate in foreign trade fairs. Every year, Chamber arranges the participation of its members to various trade fairs held abroad. In 2003, A good number of companies under the auspices of the Chamber participated in Single Country Trade Fair held in Yangon, Myanmar organized by Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh, Quadrangle Expo 2003, held in Chiang Mai, Thailand and 17 th International Trade Fair, held in Kolkata, India .In the Kolkata Fair, the participating Women Entrepreneurs of the Chamber received the best award. They also achieved high appreciation in participating Single Country Trade Fair held in Sydney, Australia. World Trade Centre: The Chamber has recently started construction of World Trade Centre (WTC) of international standard, first of its kind in Bangladesh, in the heart of this international port city which according to draft plan will be twin tower building complex comprising multi-functional activities with modern facilities. Membership of World Trade Centre Association Inc.(WTCA) has also been obtained. Cooperation with International Organizations:

 MOU with Foreign Chambers, Tops & International Organization : The Chamber has signed a good number of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and cooperation agreement with various international organizations, trade promotional organizations and Chambers of Commerce. Collaboration with ZDH and Technonent Asia (TA):

From 1991 to 1998 Chamber had implemented various programmes on institutional support, service delivery and advocacy under a partnership programme with German Federation of Small Business (ZDH) and Technonent Asia (TA), Singapore for the development of SME sector of the country. GTZ PROGRESS Enterprise Information Services Project:

For implementing EIS Project in Chittagong region - the Chamber has signed a Cooperation Agreement with German Technical Cooperation (GTZ); an agency of the Federal Republic of Germany engaged in the implementation of development cooperation programs. Enterprise Information Services (EIS) is an integrated component in GTZ PROGRESS. EIS has set its objective to increase use and improve supply of demand-led Enterprise Information in the regional economies. In achieving this objective, EIS has to address two types of players in the economy. The EIS support package includes: organizational development of CCCI & establishment and mainstreaming of an information management system at the Chittagong chamber. The function of the information management system is to manage and disseminate enterprise and trade information smoothly for use of the business community. Other advisory support related to information management will be provided to the CCCI such as training on how to develop, price and market information products. Project Under Asia Invest Programme of EU :

Under Asia Invest Programme of European Union, Chamber launched a new project titled Strengthening of Bangladeshi Business Organization and Entrepreneurs Group for Doing Business with EU. The 31 month project aim at diversifying countrys export as well as enhance trade between Bangladesh and EU. The project activity include transfer of business expertise, assistance in providing specific EU related consultancy to individual companies in Bangladesh and developing their capacities in dissemination of EU related information and strengthening sector specific lobbying for development of quality products for export to EU countries. The partners of the project include The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry, SEQUA, Germany & German, Belgian, Luxembourgian, Debelux Chamber of Foreign Trade. Collaboration with ATDP-II: With a view to foster the growth and development of agro based industries and business under private sector in Bangladesh, the Chamber implemented various development programmes in collaboration with Agrobased Industries and Technology Development Project Phase-II (ATDP-II). Establishment of CCCI-SEDF Knowledge Centre:

The Chamber in assistant with South Asia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF), a multi donor facility managed by SME development wing of World Bank established a Knowledge Centre in Chamber premises to conduct physical and web based training on

trade and commerce to foster Chittagong.

the business of Small & Medium Enterprises of