Merchants of Peace

Founded in 1919, the International Chamber of Commerce, ICC, is the world business organization and the voice of the private sector within the UN, WTO, OECD, G20 and other international organizations. Wherever global decisions are made, ICC ensures that business is at the table. ICC is the only organisation authorised to speak on behalf of companies at a global level.

ICC was created by a group of entrepreneurs to promote international trade and represent business all over the world. Acting on their conviction that the private sector is best qualified to set global standards for business, these entrepreneurs called themselves “Merchants of Peace”.

Its members are organized in national committees.

Mission of ICC

The mission of ICC is to promote an open international global trade and investment system, a responsible business conduct, as well as a global approach to regulation.

ICC works to make global trade easier and more accessible by representing businesses, setting standards, and providing commercial dispute resolution services.

ICC supports international business with practical tools and services to adapt and meet the challenges of globalisation towards a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Organisational Structure

World Council

The ICC World Council is the highest authority and corresponds to the General Assembly. Unlike other organisations, the members are National Committees that represent their national economies and member companies.

Executive Board

The Executive Board is responsible for developing strategy, political direction, action programme and finances. This body approves all ICC positions. Its members are elected by the World Council for a three-year term.

Leadership

ICC Chairman is Philippe Varin, formerly CEO of Peugeot, among other senior roles.

The Secretary-General is John Denton, a former Australian diplomat.

Secretariat

Based in Paris, the ICC Secretariat employs a team of approximately 200 professionals. Led by the Secretary General, it serves as the executive arm responsible for implementing policy and representing the interests of the business community in international forums.

Commissions

Composed of experts members of National Committees, ICC Commissions are the driving force of ICC. They develop the rules, policies, and standards that govern global trade, bringing together private-sector experts to influence international policy and create practical business tools.

National Committees

National Committees serve as the primary gateway to the ICC, where they represent their local members. They act as a permanent liaison between the International Secretariat and their domestic members. By joining a National Committee, members are automatically members of ICC.

ICC Switzerland  

ICC Switzerland is the Swiss National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and advocates for the interests of Swiss businesses within the global organization. Our mission is to promote world trade and ensure the principles of a free market economy, free trade, and private enterprise.

We provide Swiss-based companies with direct access to ICC activities. In close coordination with economiesuisse, ICC Switzerland represents the ICC's perspective on international business concerns to the Swiss Federal Administration.

While financially independent, ICC Switzerland pays an annual subscription fee to the ICC International Secretariat in Paris, with rates set proportional to the economic significance of each member country.

Membership in ICC Switzerland automatically includes membership in the global ICC. Our network comprises international trading companies, specialised law firms, chambers of commerce, and major economic associations.

Founded in 1922 by economiesuisse, the Swiss Bankers Association, and the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in France, our office is located within the "House of the Economy" in Zurich.

Our work

ICC Switzerland:

• opens access for Swiss based companies to ICC and international Organizations, notably the WTO and UN
• in coordination with economiesuisse, advocates the views of Swiss business on issues dealt with by the ICC and conveys the ICC’s official positions to the Swiss Federal Administration
• defends the interests of its Swiss-based member companies on the ICC World Council, the ICC’s supreme body
• exclusively appoints Swiss delegates to ICC organs and Commissions 
• informs its members about ICC work and activities
• promotes rules and standards of ICC in Switzerland
• runs the secretariat of the Swiss Commission on Arbitration and ADR which appoints Swiss based arbitrators in ICC procedures at the International Court of Arbitration
• appoints Swiss members of the Court of Arbitration
• hosts events in Switzerland on topics within the global activities of ICC
• is the official distributor for ICC tools in Switzerland, for example the well-known Incoterms
• ICC Switzerland hosts the Focal Point for the UN Global Compact Network Switzerland