Good News from Colombia

1. Guest Columnist

I have always believed that by working together we can achieve the necessary changes to make this world better, more equitable and with opportunities for all. When I became a businesswoman, I found that there were other entrepreneurs like me, willing to donate their talent, knowledge, time and resources led by the belief that fostering and promoting world trade and eliminating all existing trade barriers, will allow for the benefits of trade to materialize for the world´s entire population.

I am convinced that promoting investment, open markets for goods and services, and the free movement of capital to any part of the world is a matter of common interest to all businesspersons, and that is why conflict resolution, policy enactment and solving practical problems will only be possible if we all work together.

This is evident for millions of companies around the world, through the daily use of INCOTERMS, the ICC AntiCorruption Rules, and the UCP600, to cite just a few examples of how the ICC contributes to trade by providing practical solutions. The ICC, however, also collaborates in public policy drafting, such as in eliminating double taxation for international companies, as was recognized a few months ago by the University of Oxford in its "Journal of International Economic Law", which, in its March edition, included an article on the different strategies that the ICC has used, since its foundation in the 1920s, to achieve greater collaboration between companies and the public sector.

It is undoubtedly a great honor, but also a great responsibility, to assume the presidency of this organization at a time when advocating for free trade is more important than ever. The challenges are titanic and, given the extraordinary circumstances we are facing, such as climate change, generalized inflation, or disruptions in value chains and food shortages, the role of trade will be vital to be able to push through. We will continue to work together with ICC National Committees around the world, and the Chambers of Commerce affiliated to the World Federation of Chambers, to keep markets open and fulfill the ideals of the ICC.

María Fernanda Garza President of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)