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The Chambers of Commerce
Advices and help from entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs… This is the best way of defining a chamber of commerce.
What do the Chambers do?
An initiative coming from entrepreneurs
Creating a Chamber of Commerce is an initiative coming from entrepreneurs, who want to cooperate, develop their region, and defend their interests. Chambers help companies work together to tackle problems with a scope too broad for a company alone. Chambers of Commerce are run by entrepreneurs, but in the interests of general business and the economic development of the region, averse to individual interests.
Creating synergies between companies
The chambers bring entrepreneurs and businesses together to create new opportunities and promote synergies, to help businesses and create added value. They work to create an environment that encourages free enterprise, thus making a fundamental contribution to the prosperity and well-being of their region.
Collaborating with the authorities
Chambers of Commerce are private business organisations. They are not part of the government, but work closely with it in order to achieve results that are in the interest of the community. They speak for entrepreneurs because they know that a healthy business climate is a prerequisite for greater prosperity.
With local roots and worldwide ramifications
Chambers of Commerce can be found all over the world. This makes them unique. No other business organisation is as locally anchored and so widely present abroad at the same time. As a result, they are well placed to help companies both with local advocacy and with their international growth.
Belgian Chambers of Commerce abroad
There are 32 accredited Belgian-Luxembourg Chambers of Commerce abroad. They help promote bilateral trade between Belgium, Luxembourg and the country in which they are established. The Chambers are made up of entrepreneurs who know what it is like to run a business abroad. They provide a sounding board and support and help entrepreneurs with practical matters to explore new markets abroad.
Chambers of Commerce in Belgium
There are 13 accredited Chambers of Commerce in Belgium. They represent the interests of companies at local, regional, national and international level. They bring entrepreneurs in touch with each other and provide an independent sounding board. They offer training and guidance, give advice and organise numerous networking events.
The accreditation programme
Chambers of Commerce are run for and by companies. Each of the chambers has its own identity, depending on its members and the region in which it operates. However, through its accreditation programme, the Federation ensures that all Chambers carry out their tasks in a professional and qualitative manner. Accreditation is a prerequisite for a Chamber to be a member of the Federation.
Accreditation of Chambers of Commerce in Belgium
The accreditation of local Chambers of Commerce in Belgium is built around 12 principles that every chamber must respect. These principles are clearly set out in the accreditation programme.
Our 12 accreditation principles:
- Membership
- Political neutrality
- Economic partner
- Core missions of a Chamber
- Financial stability
- Independence
- Corporate governance
- The name “Chamber of Commerce”
- Territoriality and collaboration with other Chambers
- Corporate social responsibility
- Communication
- Internal quality control
The Accreditation of bilateral Chambers of Commerce
The accreditation of Belgian Chambers of Commerce abroad rests on three major pillars: corporate governance, high-quality services and constructive collaboration with the diplomatic missions abroad. This accreditation occurs in close collaboration with the Chambre de Commerce du Luxembourg, since the majority of bilateral chambers also promote the economic and commercial interests of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Belgian Chambers of Commerce abroad endorsing the principles of the accreditation programme, yet which are too young or too small, may be admitted as associate members of the Federation.
Freedom of membership
There are 13 accredited Chambers of Commerce in Belgium and 32 accredited Belgian-Luxembourg Chambers of Commerce abroad.
Belgian Chambers of Commerce are organisations under private law. Unlike a number of other countries, membership of a Chamber is not compulsory for companies in Belgium. This freedom of membership encourages Chambers to offer services that have a clear added value for their members.
A new Chamber of Commerce: is that possible?
No new Chambers of Commerce can be set up in Belgium. The 13 existing Chambers operate throughout the whole of Belgium and have a mandate from the FPS Economy for the issuing of certificates of origin.