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Summary Report on CACCI Activities in 2015
THE YEAR IN REVIEW
As we usher in the year 2016, it is an opportune time for us to take stock of our
accomplishments in 2015 with the view to building on them in order to make our
Confederation even more relevant to our members in the year ahead.
Hereunder is a summary report on the activities undertaken by CACCI last year:
CACCI PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING IN HONG KONG
Members of the CACCI Planning Committee led by CACCI President Mr. Jemal
Inaishvili met on February 4, 2015 in Hong Kong primarily to discuss preparations for the
29th
CACCI Conference. Hosted by the Kowloon Chamber of Commerce (KCC) and attended
by 30 representatives from 11 CACCI member-countries, the Meeting primarily discussed
preparations for the 29th
CACCI Conference, focusing mainly on the dates and venue, the
Conference theme and topics, suggested format and program, and possible line-up of
speakers.
The Planning Committee agreed to hold the 29th
CACCI Conference on October 29-
30, 2015, with the Regal Airport Hotel as venue. The Committee considered a list of possible
themes and topics for the 29th
CACCI Conference as compiled by the Secretariat. After
exchanging views on the members’ suggestions and taking into account the additional
proposals made by the members around the table, the Planning Committee decided that
the theme and topics of 29th
CACCI Conference should be forward-looking; should focus on
policies and measures that the business sector and governments in the region can
undertake to take full advantage of the opportunities offered not just by markets in the
Asia-Pacific region but by countries in other parts of the world as well; and should be able
to attract a broad range of audience, particularly young businessmen. In light of the above,
the Committee agreed that the Hong Kong Conference should carry the theme “Asia
Beyond Limits”.
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Aside from discussing preparations for the 2015 Conference, the Meeting also
reviewed the CACCI projects and activities lined up for the rest of 2015, including training
programs, Presidential visits, etc.
CACCI PRESIDENTIAL VISITS
Bangladesh Visit
CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili led a nine-member delegation to Dhaka,
Bangladesh for a two-day visit from February 2-3, 2015. The Bangladesh trip was a
milestone on two counts. It was Mr. Inaishvili's first Presidential visit since he took the helm
of CACCI in September 2014. It was also the first-ever CACCI Presidential visit to Bangladesh.
Organized and hosted by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FBCCI), the visit was aimed at providing the CACCI visitors the opportunity to
promote CACCI in Bangladesh and explore possible joint business ventures and investment
cooperation with their Bangladeshi counterparts. The CACCI delegation was composed of
key chamber officers and leading businessmen from Australia, Georgia, Hong Kong, India,
Iran, Nepal, the Philippines, Taiwan and Turkey, namely:
With the delegation's various meetings widely covered in the Bangladesh media, the
CACCI Presidential visit to Bangladesh succeeded in generating awareness about CACCI and
its activities among key Ministers and other government officials, the business community
and the general public of Bangladesh.
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The two-day program for the Presidential visit allowed the CACCI delegation to meet
with various government officials (from the Board of Investments, Ministry of Finance, and
the Ministry of Agriculture) to exchange views on trade and investment issues as well as
identify areas where Bangladesh and CACCI member countries may strengthen their
economic relations. The delegation also had the opportunity to network with FBCCI officers,
members and other local businessmen; visit a leading pharmaceutical company (Beximco
Pharmaceuticals); and experience some of the tourist attractions and places of interest in
Bangladesh.
Belarus Visit
CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili led an eight-member delegation to Minsk,
Belarus on September 22-23, 2015. The visit was made upon the invitation of the Chairman
of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BelCCI), Mr. Mikhail Miatlikov to Mr.
Inaishvili.
During the two-day visit, the CACCI delegation met with: (a) key officers and
members of the BelCCI; (b) the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Mr. Valentin
Rybakov; (c) representative of the National Agency of Investment and Privatization; (d)
marketing and sales representatives of the Belarusian Potash Company; (e) key officers of
the Great Stone Industrial Park in Belarus; and (f) head of marketing department of the
High-Tech Park Administration.
These meetings provided the CACCI delegation the opportunity to introduce the
Confederation, what its objectives are, and the activities it undertakes to achieve these
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objectives, as well as to invite the local businessmen to attend the upcoming 29th
CACCI
Conference in Hong Kong. On the other hand, the hosts informed the visitors of the trade
and investment opportunities that Belarus has to offer, as well as elaborate on the
investment policies and incentives provided by the country.
Australia Visit
CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili made a highly successful visit on November 25-
27, 2015 to Australia where he and his 14-member delegation were warmly received by the
officers and members of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and the
New South Wales Business Chamber (NSWBC), called on key government officials, and
visited a number of companies representing important industry sectors of the country.
The three-day itinerary of the CACCI delegation from six countries brought them to
Canberra, where they were hosted by the ACCI on November 25 and 26, and to Sydney
where a full-day program was arranged for them by the NSWBC on November 27.
In Canberra, the delegation:
� Met with representatives of the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(DFAT) who informed of the economic
diplomacy agenda of Australia which is
made up of four pillars, namely, investment,
economic growth, trade, and business
initiatives.
� Visited the Canberra Business Chamber
where they were received by the key
officers who made a presentation on the
trade and investment opportunities in
Canberra.
� Attended the 2015 Australian Chamber
Business Leaders' Annual Dinner held on
November 25 at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. The event was
attended by the officers and members of the ACCI and their special guests,
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which included The Honourable Malcolm
Turnbull MP, Prime Minister of Australia,
who gave the Keynote Address.
� Joined a networking breakfast hosted by
the Canberra Business Chamber Exporters
Network which provided the visiting CACCI
members the opportunity to interact with
exporters from the Canberra region and
southern New South Wales.
� Participated in the Council Meeting of the
Australian Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, during which CACCI President Mr.
Jemal Inaishvili made a presentation on
CACCI – its history, its objectives, the
activities it undertakes to achieve this
objective, and its current set of officers.
President Inaishvili also took the
opportunity to invite members of the ACCI
General Council to attend the 30th
CACCI
Conference to be held in Taipei, Taiwan in
2016, which also marks the 50th
Anniversary of the Confederation.
� Visited the Museum of Democracy, which is
the Old Parliament House converted into a
museum, and toured the important
chambers (the Senate Chamber and the
House of Representative Chamber0) in the
old building and learned a bit of brief history
about the old governing process in Australia.
� Attended a lunch meeting at the Australian
National University (ANU) campus where
the visiting CACCI members exchanged
views with the ANU officials on matters of
public policy and governance, development,
trade, law and international business.
� Visited the Aspen Medical, an award
winning major provider of outsourced
healthcare dedicated to providing clients
around the world with world-class
Australian healthcare services in any
setting – from a single paramedic to a full
spectrum solution.
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In Sydney, the CACCI delegation:
� Joined a morning tea reception hosted by the key
officers of the New South Wales Business Chamber
(NSWBC) during which the two sides had preliminary
discussions on preparations for the 31st
CACCI
Conference and the 10th
World Chambers Congress
(which the NSWBC will be hosting) to be jointly held in
September 2017.
� Visited the NSW Government where they were
received by key government officials who made a
brief presentation on the international trade and
investment policies of the NSW Government.
� Was invited as VIP guests at the 2015 NSW Business
Awards Gala held at the Dockside Pavilion in Darling
Harbour and joined some 1,100 other officers,
members and guests of the NSWBC in an event that
highlighted the outstanding contribution made by
business to the economy and employment in NSW.
PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS/EVENTS OF OTHER
INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
World Chambers Federation
CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili attended the
meeting of the WCF General Council held on October 1, 2015
in Bratislava, Slovakia. CACCI is a permanent member of the
WCF General Council, the governing body of the WCF, and is
currently represented by Mr. Inaishvili.
B20 International Business Advisory Council
CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili joined other
members of the B20 International Business Advisory
Council (IBAC) at the latter's first meeting in
Washington DC on April 17, and its second meeting in
Ankara, Turkey on September 4. The meetings featured
senior government and G20 officials and global leaders
of the B20 business community and highlighted the potential for stepped up G20 outcomes
from strengthened public/private dialogue.
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B20 Chair Rifat Hisarcıkloğlu, who is President of the CACCI Primary Member Union
of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and concurrently Vice President
of CACCI, and B20 IBAC Chair Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of Coca Cola Company,
hosted the meetings. Mr. Inaishvili was invited by B20 Turkey to take part in the Council,
which is given the mandate to provide advice in shaping of the B20 policy recommendations
to the G20 member governments. The B20 is a platform that serves as an intermediary
group between G20 governments and the international business community. Its primary
mission is to deal with the urgent and significant global issues by developing actionable
recommendations from global business leaders to the G20 Leaders.
B20 Conference
CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili and CACCI Director-General Amb. Victor C. Y.
Tseng attended the B20 Conference held on September 3-5, 2015 in Ankara, Istanbul. The
B20, which is chaired this year by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges
(TOBB), has been the business community's
primary platform for recommending policies to
G20 leaders on issues that concern the global
economic agenda. The Conference in Ankara
brought together the B20 community to discuss
B20's recommendations, and deliver them to G20
governments.
The Conference sessions focused on topics
such as SME development, infrastructure, financial
markets, fighting corruption, digital economy, empowering women, and global economic
outlook – all of which are highly relevant to the business community in general and to
CACCI members in particular. The Conference also offered opportunities for Mr. Inaishvili
and Amb. Tseng to interact with G20 finance ministers, employment ministers, central bank
governors, and finance deputies who were present for their official meetings in Ankara.
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World Business Leaders Conference and the 4th
China Import Expo
CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili led a twelve-member delegation to Kunshan,
Jiangsu Province in China, to participate in the 4th
World Business Leaders Conference
hosted by the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) and the International
Chamber of Commerce China (ICC China) on May 20, 2015.
The 4th
World Business Leaders Conference aimed at providing a platform for the
global business community to discuss the latest trends and challenges on global trade and
investment, promote close cooperation among the international business community, and
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share information and ideas on opportunities brought by world economic development.
More than 300 delegates from over 40 countries and regions registered to attend the
Conference.
Mr. Inaishvili was a panelist in the session on
China's Economic Reform Outlook and Global Business
Opportunities during which he shared his views on the
prospects of China's economic reform and what the new
round of reform means for Asian businesses and how
they can seize opportunities brought by such reform.
CACCI Senior President Mr. Samir Modi was
panelist in the session on Trade and Investment in the
Era of Digital Economy where shared his perspectives on
how businesses, governments, and chambers of
commerce and industry should tackle challenges and
take advantage of opportunities in this era of the digital
economy to foster growth in trade and investment.
On May 21, members of the CACCI delegation led
by President Inaishvili visited the 4th
China Import Expo
Kunshan (CIE 2015), which was held from May 20 to 23.
The CIE is one of the first international fairs in China
focused on boosting imports to the country. The Expo
attracted 681 companies from 43 countries, including
those covered by China's “One Belt, One Road” initiative.
Trade promotion institutions and industrial associations from 20 countries also participated
in the Expo. Delegations from Italy, Brazil, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam joined the event for
the first time.
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World Chambers Congress
CACCI took an active role in the various activities
during the 9th
World Chambers Congress held in early June
2015 in Torino, Italy.
World Chambers Competition
The Secretariat coordinated with CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili and the ICC-
World Chambers Federation on Mr. Inaishivili's role as Judge in the 2015 edition of the
World Chambers Competition under the Best Job Creation and Business Development
Project category. The Competition is a global awards programme that recognizes the most
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innovative projects undertaken by chambers of
commerce from around the world. It was a key
compnoent of the 9th
World Chambers Congress that
took place on June 10-12 June 2015 in Torino, Italy.
Network Sessions
The Secretariat provided support to CACCI
President Mr. Inaishvili for his participation as
speaker in the Network Sessions scheduled on the
afternoon of June 11 as part of the program of the
9th
World Chambers Congress. Mr. Inaishvili made a
presentation on CACCI's Product and Service
Councils which were organized to promote greater
business interaction among CACCI members who are
in the same product or service line.
IORA Women Economic Empowerment
CACCI President Mr. Inaishvili participated in
the Roundtable on “Women Mean Business:
Supporting Women's Economic Empowerment
Across the Indian Ocean Rim” held on the morning
of June 10 as part of the program of the 9th
World
Chambers Congress. The Roundtable was organized
by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and the IORA (Indian Ocean Regional Association) Business Forum. Mr. Inaishvili
made a presentation about the CACCI Women Entrepreneurs Council and its activities to
promote women entrepreneurship in CACCI member countries.
Irish Chambers of Commerce
CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili
met with Mr. Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of
Chambers Ireland and with Mr. Conor Healy,
Chief Executive of Cork Chamber during his
visit to Dublin, Ireland in early May.
Mr. Inaishvili exchanged ideas with
Mr. Talbot and Mr. Healy on possible areas of cooperation between CACCI and their
respective chambers, and invited both chamber leaders to attend the 29th
CACCI Conference
to be held on October 29-30, 2015 in Hong Kong. Chambers Ireland is Ireland's largest
business organisation with a network of Chambers of Commerce in every major town and
region in the country. Cork Chamber is the leading business organisation for the promotion
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and development of economic and commercial activity in Cork, the capital of the South of
Ireland and the Republic of Ireland's second largest City region.
Azerbaijan CCI
Dr. Steve Hsieh, Chairman of
the CACCI Budget Commission and Vice
Chairman of CTBC Financial Holding on
May 6 met with key officers of the
Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce and
Industry led by Vice President Mr. Adil
Sh. Huseynov and Vice President Mr.
Nazim Tatliyev. Dr. Hsieh was
accompanied by four other officers
from CTBC Financial Holding. The
visiting group was in Baku for the 48th
Annual Meeting of ADB Governors.
Mr. Huseynov welcomed the delegation to Baku, and thanked them for visiting the
Chamber. He mentioned that CACCI was introduced to the Chamber by CACCI President Mr.
Jemal Inaishvili, who encouraged them to join the Confederation, adding that they eventually
applied for membership in January 2015. He explained that their members are keen to
establish relations with other CACCI members since they are interested to explore trade and
investment opportunities offered by the Asian markets. He expressed his hopes that their
membership with CACCI will facilitate such a strengthening of relationships between the two
sides, and that they look forward to participating in CACCI activities. The Chamber conveyed its
invitation to CACCI members to consider the possibility of organizing trade exhibitions in Baku,
and offered the Chamber's assistance in organizing the said exhibitions.
Dr. Hsieh invited the Chamber to attend the upcoming 29th
CACCI Conference
scheduled to be held on October 29-30, 2015 in Hong Kong and thus, take advantage of the
opportunity to meet and network with CACCI members from other countries and to know
more about the Confederation.
Philippine Business Conference of the Philippine CCI
CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili, accompanied by
senior executives of the CACCI Secretariat, participated as
speaker in the 41st
Philippine Business Conference and Expo
organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(PCCI) on October 26-27, 2015 in Manila, Philippines. Mr.
Inaishvili spoke on the topic “Building Competitive Partnerships”,
highlighting the activities undertaken by CACCI to promote
cooperation and partnership among businessmen in the region.
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Asia Matters
CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili was invited as
a Speaker at the Seventh EU Asia Economic Roundtable
held on July 10, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. Held under the
theme “A New Era in EU-Asia Economic Partnership, the
Roundtable was organized by Asia Matters, an
educational think tank that works in close partnership
with government, business and academic stakeholders in
Ireland, the EU and across Asia. Mr. Inaishvili was requested to share his perspectives as
CACCI President on “The view from Asia: where Europe fits in Asian Trade Priorities”.
B20 Forum in Antalya, Turkey
CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili represented CACCI at the B20 Summit held on
November 14-15, 2015 in Antalya, Turkey, which was hosted by the B20 Turkey, which is
chaired by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), and attended by 560
business leaders from 41 countries.
The business leaders, drawn from across the G20 economies, appealed for new
commitments to kick-start the global economy for the benefit of all—against a backdrop of
sluggish GDP growth and falling trade flows. They called for action to support trade,
investment, and employment and SME growth— drawing on a series of recommendations
developed by the global business community under the 2015 Turkish B20 presidency.
Silkroad Chamber of International Commerce
CACCI President Jemal Inaishvili attended
the Silk Road International Investment Forum
held in Hong Kong on 9-10 December 2015. The
Forum served as the occasion to launch the new
Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce
(SRCIC), to which Mr. Inaishvili was offered the role of Honorary Vice Chairman to help guide
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the development of the Chamber and exchange experience. The SRCIC is a newly-
established international, non-governmental organization that aims to promote the
renaissance of the Silk Road and to enable business participation in the investment and
trade opportunities it offers.
During the Forum, Mr. Inaishvili also served as one of the Panelists in Session One
which focused on the topic “Silk Belt & Road Opportunities for International Business.”
Meeting with the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Northern Territory of Australia
CACCI Director-General Amb. Victor C. Y. Tseng
hosted lunch for Mr. Greg Bicknell, CEO of the Chamber
of Commerce Northern Territory, and Mr. Chris Heron,
Board Member of the Northern Territory Chamber's
International Business Council. They had follow-up
discussions on Mr. Bicknell's earlier invitation for CACCI
and its members to participate in the International
Business Forum scheduled to take place in Darwin on
April 29, 2016.
29TH CACCI CONFERENCE IN HONG KONG
CACCI successfully held its 29th
CACCI Conference in Hong Kong on October 29-30,
2015, with the participation of some 400 delegates composed largely of leading
businessmen from 22 Asia-Pacific countries, led by CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili, and
Mr. Conrad Lee, Chairman of the Kowloon Chamber of Commerce (KCC), the local host
organization. Held at the Regal Airport Hotel, this year's Conference marked the second
time that CACCI held its annual gathering in Hong Kong.
This year's Conference focused on the theme “Asia Beyond Limits”. It aimed at
providing another valuable platform for CACCI members and invited experts to share their
views on measures that the business sector and governments in the region can undertake to
take full advantage of the current opportunities offered not just by markets in the Asia-
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Pacific region but by countries in other parts of the world as well, thereby enabling them to
grow beyond the domestic borders and into the global market.
The Keynote Speaker at the Opening Ceremony was Mr. Godfrey Leung King-kwo,
Undersecretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong. Undersecretary
Leung was presented with a Plaque of Appreciation by CACCI President Mr. Inaishvili and
KCC Chairman Mr. Lee at the end of his Keynote Speech.
Three Plenary Sessions featured eminent speakers who shared their perspectives on
the following timely and relevant issues: (a) One-Belt, One-Road Initiative: Opportunities for
Asian Business; (b) Challenges in Investing Overseas; and (c) Promoting the
Internationalization of SMEs.
As in previous years, parallel break-out sessions on sectors of interest to members
were also organized. Each of the sessions featured panelists who shared their views on
trends and developments, problems and issues, and prospects for growth in the sectors
concerned. There were discussions on activities that CACCI members can undertake to
further strengthen business ties among themselves.
A special session entitled “Discover Business Opportunities Through CACCI” was
held on the afternoon of October 30. This session featured special country presentations by
representatives from India, Georgia, Vietnam and Hong Kong. The country presentations
were intended to provide the Conference delegates the opportunity to obtain more
information about the economic and business conditions and the trade and investment
opportunities in the various CACCI member countries, as well as to learn more about the
CACCI Primary Members and their activities.
The 85th
CACCI Council Meeting was held on the afternoon of October 30, 2015, to
discuss the activities and other internal matters/policies pertaining the Confederation.
Among others, the CACCI Council:
� Announced the admission of one Primary Member from Azerbaijan, and 20 new
Lifetime Special Members from six countries – 12 from Bangladesh, two each
from Hong Kong, Georgia, and Nepal, and one each from the Philippines and
Singapore.
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� Endorsed a Policy Statement on Rules of Origin. In the paper, CACCI urged
governments to re-double their efforts to find a pathway forward to conclude
the current Doha Round of WTO negotiations and ratify as quickly as possible the
Trade Facilitation Agreement negotiated in 2014.
� Reconfirmed the offer of the Chinese International Economic Cooperation
Association (CIECA) to host the 30th
CACCI Conference in 2016, which marks the
50th
Anniversary of CACCI, in Taipei, Taiwan.
During the Gala Dinner on October 29, four CACCI members were presented CACCI
Medallions by President Jemal Inaishvili in recognition of their consistent and active
participation in CACCI meetings and activities.
MOU WITH THE UKRANIAN CCI
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was
signed on October 30, 2015 during the 85th
CACCI Council
Meeting in Hong Kong between CACCI and the Ukrainian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI). The MOU
outlined possible areas of cooperation between the two
organizations. CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili and UCCI
President Mr. Gennadiy Chyzhykov signed the MOU on
behalf of their respective organizations.
MOU WITH INVESTTELLIGENCE GROUP
CACCI signed an MOU with Investelligence Group Pte Ltd. in
which the two organizations agree to set up an exclusive strategic
partnership to promote and facilitate cross-border direct
investments, partnerships, and business cooperation between
CACCI members and other business enterprises. The formal signing took place on December
14, 2015 in Tbilisi, with CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili and Investelligence Group Ltd.
President Mr. Petr Panov as signatories.
Investelligence Group Ltd. Is the electronic investment platform for the Center for
Investment Technology and Trade (CITT). Founded through the participation of the
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (CCIRF) - a CACCI Primary
Member - the. CITT is a worldwide platform designed to aid the selection of, and to invite
investments into, specific innovative projects. Geographically, CITT focuses upon ensuring
the interaction of the Russian business community with the countries of the Asia Pacific
Region. CITT seeks to enable innovative methods in sourcing and attracting investments into
the prospective projects. These solutions, together with extensive contacts within the global
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business community, guarantee the complete fulfillment of project support, all the way
from partner search, to project implementation.
SUBMISSION OF CACCI POLICY STATEMENT ON RULES OF ORIGIN
TO RELEVANT MULTILATERAL BODIES
The CACCI Secretariat on November 17 submitted the Policy Statement on Rules of
Origin to multilateral organizations such as the APEC Secretariat, the APEC Business Advisory
Council, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, and the SAARC CCI. The paper was finalized
and approved by the CACCI Council during its meeting in Hong Kong on October 30, 2015.
PUBLICATIONS OF THE LATEST EDITIONS OF THE PSC NEWSLETTERS
The CACCI Secretariat published the latest editions of the newsletters of ten of the
CACCI Product and Service Councils, namely:
CACCI Women Entrepreneurs Council
Asian Tourism Council
Asian Council on Food and Agriculture
Asian Council on Health and Education
Asian Council on Water, Energy and Environment
Asian ICT Council
Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia and the Pacific
Asian Council on Trade Facilitation and Asian Council on Trade Generation
Asian Council on Contracting and Construction
SME Development Council
LAUNCHING OF THE FIRST CACCI HYDROPOWER AND CLEAN ENERGY EXCELLENCE AWARD
The CACCI Secretariat launched the 1st
CACCI
Hydropower and Clean Energy Excellence Award on
February 13. Initiated by the CACCI Asian Council on Water,
Energy and Environment (ACWEE) which is under the
chairmanship of Nepal, the 1st
Asia-Pacific Hydropower and
Clean Energy Excellence Award is presented by CACCI in
recognition of the person or institution that has contributed
significantly to the sustainable promotion, support and
development of hydropower and clean energy in the Asia
Pacific region.
The winner of the First Asia-Pacific Hydropower and Clean Energy Excellence Award
was ESNA Power (Pvt) Ltd. from Sri Lanka. Honorable Mention Award was given to Chilime
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Hydropower Company Limited from Nepal. The presentation of the Awards was made
during the Gala Dinner of the 29th
CACCI Conference held on October 29, 2015 in Hong
Kong.
UPGRADE OF THE CACCI WEBSITE
The CACCI Secretariat coordinated with Ms. Jasmine Loi, the Programme Director of
Holistisch Group, and members of her team on the design and setting up of the new CACCI
website. Available on both desktop and mobile devices, the new website features a fresher
look and feel, easier navigation, cleaner
interface with a more user friendly design.
Moreover, the new website presents better
media connections and video functions that
CACCI will use to show photos and videos of
its many regional and international events.
Undertaken as an initiative of CACCI
President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili, the new
portal hopes to disseminate up-to-date
information, PR news, communiqués, conference reports, CACCI Presidential visit reports,
service and product councils’ publications, specialized trainings reports and other activities
undertaken by CACCI members all over the Asia Pacific region. Mr. Inaishvili said that the
new website aims to enable CACCI to continue playing a valuable role in promoting
cooperation among business communities in Asia Pacific. It is designed to help members
meet their need for timely and relevant information on business opportunities in the region
and to network with potential partners in other Asian countries, Mr. Inaishvili added.
SUPPORT FOR NEPAL EARTHQUAKE RELIEF
Following the disastrous earthquake
of 7.8-magnitude that struck Nepal on April
24, CACCI rallied its chamber members and
the global business community (through the
World Chambers Federations) to make
donations to “Operation Relief” – an
initiative activated by the Federation of
Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FNCCI), a CACCI Primary Member,
to provide support for relief efforts and for victims.
Organizations in neighboring countries to Nepal, such as the Ceylon Chamber of
Commerce, lent their support, as well as other CACCI member chambers and enterprises,
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including the Kowloon Chamber of Commerce which pledged US$10,000 and Mr. Wilfred Li
from Hong Kong who volunteered to send his company’s products such as diapers, sanitary
pads and wet wipes. Aside from financial help, members were also encouraged to donate
desperately needed items such as tents, torch lights, tarpaulins, floor mats, masks and
gloves, hand sanitizers, water, dry packaged foods, clothes, blankets and cleaning supplies.
SUPPORT FOR TBILISI FLOOD RELIEF
The city of Tbilisi – the hometown of CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili – suffered
a devastating flood and landslide on June 13-14 when the banks of Vere River, which runs
through the center of the city, burst after hours of torrential train. The terrible catastrophe
resulted in several deaths and substantial damage in the city, including the destruction of
the zoo that caused dangerous animals to escape, posing further risk to the lives of the city's
population. This was reportedly the worst natural disaster of its kind to have hit Tbilisi,
resulting in an estimated GEL 40 million in damage. The CACCI Secretariat disseminated to
all members a copy of the Special Announcement issued by the Georgia-based TBC Bank
regarding the flood, as well as the special fund that it has set up in support of the families
that have suffered from the disaster and which is open for further donations.
CACCI FOUNDATION GRANT FOR THE BWCCI PROJECT PROPOSAL
The Secretariat coordinated with the
President of the Barisal Women Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) and members of
the CACCI Foundation Fund Management
Committee on the approval of the CACCI
Foundation Grant for the project proposal of the
BWCCI.
The BWCCI applied for a grant from the
CACCI Foundation for its project whose primary
objective is to assist in the entrepreneurial
development of women, especially the less fortunate ones, in Barisal, which is an old port
located some 353 kilometers from Dhaka in southern Bangladesh. The beneficiary project
will mainly include providing capacity-building in entrepreneurship to some 160 women
entrepreneurs in Barisal within a period of six months. The estimated cost for the project is
about US$5,000. The proposal was submitted by Mrs. Anjuman Salahuddin, Founder and
President of BWCCI, following the CACCI Presidential Visit of CACCI President Mr. Jemal
Inaishvili to Bangladesh on February 2-3, 2015.
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PREPARATION OF AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE CACCI BROCHURE
The CACCI Secretariat prepared a 28-page CACCI Brochure
containing its history, objectives, activities, list of current leaders, past
year's Presidents, and brief introduction of each of its 28 Primary Members.
The brochure is intended to serve as a promotional material for CACCI to
further raise the profile of the Confederation in the region and
internationally as well.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE 30TH CACCI CONFERENCE IN 2016
The CACCI Secretariat on December 7 organized a luncheon meeting in Taipei with
CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili and representatives from CACCI members in Taiwan,
namely, the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA), the Chinese
National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC), and the CTBC Bank.
The meeting discussed preparations for the 30th
CACCI Conference to be hosted by
CIECA in 2016 in Taipei, as well as preparations for the 31st
CACCI Conference to be held in
Sydney, Australia in 2017 back-to-back with the 10th
World Chambers Congress organized by
the New South Wales Business Chamber in cooperation with the World Chambers
Federation ICC.