Bogotá welcomes businessmen and multilateral banks to boost the popular economy

More than 800 national and foreign companies, at least 40 leaders of chambers of commerce, as well as representatives of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean -CAF- and the UN, will meet in Bogota at the first Americas Summit of the World Chamber Federation 2024 (WCF).

The event, which will take place next Wednesday and Thursday at the headquarters of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce (CCB), will be attended by the executive president of the CAFthe Colombian Sergio Díaz-Granados.

Likewise, the secretary general of the International Chamber of Commerce will attend (ICC), John Denton; the president of the World Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Rifat Hisarcikliogluand the president of the United States Black Chambers, Ron Busbyamong other senior executives.

A central part of the summit, organized by WCF and the CCBhas to do with the holding, for the first time, of a business conference, from which business of more than four million dollars is expected, as well as with the presentation of the Women’s Council of Chambers of Commerce.

“We intend not only to bring 1,500 members representing 12,000 chambers in the world, but also to do business in addition to the academic agenda, and that will be achieved for the first time with the business roundtable“explained the president of the CCB, Ovid Claros.

For the executive it is essential to tell the businessmen of the world that “There are many opportunities here for them and we have many opportunities with them.”

Of global significance

This regional summit will allow the exchange of knowledge and the strengthening of the pillars of the WCF work plan, which has as its axes improved access to global markets for MSMEs and their digitalization, sustainability in business and climate action, and inclusion and women empowerment.

The business conference will be on Thursday, May 9, in which “There will be more than 70 foreign companies that will come to our city exclusively to meet with our businessmen and women, local suppliers, to generate business and create synergies and thus promote the internationalization of our products and services.”, explained the manager.

Food and beverage sectors will participate; construction and energy; health and chemicals; pharmacist; cosmetics; textile, fashion and clothing; information technologies and printing and packaging.

“More than 75 buying companies will visit us and we will have more than 400 selling companies“, he highlighted, adding that these will come from Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, United States, Guatemala, Israel, Kenya, Panama, Paraguay, PeruDominican Republic and Ukraine.

“Chambers of commerce are those actors called to generate dialogue and opportunities for the business sector and the countries we represent.“, he concluded clear.

He recalled that the academic agenda includes talks such as ‘Regional value chains: challenges and opportunities’, by the president of the CAF.

In big leagues

Last April, the World Federation of Chambers of Commerce appointed clear as a member of its board of directors, a position he will hold until June 30, 2025.

“Belonging to the board of directors of the World Federation of Chambers is a recognition of the work carried out in favor of the business community on an international level.“said the president of the CCB.

He also indicated that this position is an opportunity to make the productive sector more visible, expand the international contacts of businessmen and “thereby opening new opportunities abroad, as well as promoting investment in Colombia”.

Thanks to this participation, the entity will be able to internationally promote the strategic focuses that it has outlined, such as promoting business strengthening, support in the popular economy and MSMEs.

He recalled that the WCF is a non-governmental and non-political forum of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) that allows the more than 12,000 cameras around the world to exchange information.

The ICC is the world’s largest business organization, representing more than 45 million companies in more than 100 countries, and its goal is to promote international trade and investment.