100 Years ICC Switzerland

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Merchants of Peace

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) was founded in the aftermath of the First World War, when no global system of rules governed trade, investment, finance or commercial relations.

Without waiting for governments to fill the gap, ICC’s founders acted on their conviction that the private sector is best qualified to set global standards for business. They called themselves “merchants of peace”.

After the First World War ended, a group of European and American businessmen convened in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and decided to “continue in peace” the cooperation that the war had brought about between the Allies.

Etienne Clémentel, French Minister of Commerce since 1915, led the European delegation, which was composed of French, British, Belgian and Italian representatives. His initiative, along with the determination of the business leaders who were gathered in Atlantic City on 20–24 October 1919, led to the creation of the International Chamber of Commerce.

Since then, ICC has become the institutional representative of over 45 million companies worldwide promoting trade, responsible business conduct and a global approach to regulation, in addition to providing market-leading dispute resolution service.

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History ICC Switzerland

Over the course of its history, Vorort (now known as economiesuisse) has been affiliated with several international organisations. In 1922, it formed and joined the Swiss National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce together with the Swiss Bankers’ Association and the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in France. The International Chamber of Commerce’s role in economic life was to promote contact between the representative economic circles of the various countries and organise congresses. The Secretariat has always been assigned to Vorort.

At the meeting of the World Council of the International Chamber of Commerce on 26 May 1922, Switzerland was admitted as a new National Committee. Vorort and the Swiss Bankers Association were admitted as active members – the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in France was already a member and was assigned to the Swiss National Committee, which was then be established.

A first meeting of the Swiss National Committee was scheduled for 7 July 1922 to make decisions that were necessary as a result of the admissions. Vorort was assigned four delegates, the Swiss Bankers Association three, and the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in France one representative in the six member bodies of the Swiss National Committee.