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Resolution No. 3 of the Extraordinary Session of the Council of ACP Ministers called for the creation of an ACP Chambers of Commerce (Montego Bay, Jamaica, July 1980)

As a result of the recommendations emanating from several meetings, which were supported and financed under the ACP-EU Lome Conventions, the Association of ACP National Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Other Economic Operators was legally constituted in 1996 at a meeting hosted by the Government of the Canary Islands, financed by the European Commission through the ACP General Secretariat and attended by representatives of ACP Chambers from 50 out of 70 ACP countries signatories to the Lome Convention.

Following the offer of the Government of the Canary Islands to provide the premises for the permanent office of the Association, a decision was taken to establish the headquarters in Gran Canaria (Spain). The Association, which was granted Observer Status at ACP meetings in 1990 has a permanent office in Brussels, Belgium.

The Association of ACP National Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Other Economic Operators represents the widest spectrum of ACP private sector within the context of ACP-EU relations and the initiatives of the Association complement those of the Centrefor the Development of Industry (CDI) and the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development (CTA) as well as the ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups.  It not only acts as a catalyst for private sector development in the ACP countries.  But also fulfils the need for a representation of the ACP-EU business community.

The main objectives of the Association are:

• to upgrade the level of the ACP National Chambers of Commerce so as to facilitate and foster their dialogue and contacts  between its members and others
• to contribute to the integration of the informal sector of the ACP economies into the formal sector of these economies.
• to develop and promote intra-ACP and ACP-EU trade and investment
• to facilitate and promote the regular flow of information and communication between the ACP National Chambers in economic matters and training
• to disseminate information and establish an information network
• to assist in harmonising the commercial policies of ACP countries in order to promote economic activities among the ACP states as well as with other countries

Full Members, Associate Members and Honorary Members are the three categories of members of the Associaiton.

Further information may be requested from:
 

Association of ACP National Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Other Economic Operators Brussels Bureau c/o The ACP General Secretariat 451 Avenue Georges Henri 1200 Brussels  Belgium Tel.: (32 2) 743 06 00 Fax: (32 2 ) 735 55 73

The President P.O. Box 5908 Harare Zimbabwe Tel/Fax.: (263 4 ) 776622 E-mail:  dannymeyer@mango.zw