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This year, ICC is organizing the first global edition of the renowned Corporate Startup Stars Awards together with the consulting company "Mind the Bridge".

From now on, companies can apply that promote "Open Innovation" in cooperation with startups. The internal innovation process is opened to the outside world, for example through partnerships, with the help of incubators and accelerators or through investments or acquisitions.

Any company that operates "Open Innovation" or is nominated by a startup can apply. With the recognition as "Corporate Startup Stars" or "Open Innovation Challengers", companies that are international pioneers of cooperation with start-ups should be honored are continuously improving their competitiveness and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The Corporate Startup Stars Awards are presented in numerous categories, including the Corporate Startup Accelerator Award, Corporate Startup Procurement Award, Corporate Startup Investment Award, Corporate Startup M&A Award, Open Innovation Innovative Approach Award, Public Sector Innovation Award, Regional Awards or Best New Entrant Award .
The deadline for applications is July 7, 2020. You can find more information here.

Global Survey of WHO and ICC on COVID-19

Zurich 09th April 2020

ICC and WHO launch worldwide business survey to improve COVID-19 information flows
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and World Health Organization (WHO) are launching a worldwide survey to report the challenges faced by the private sector from COVID-19.

In response to COVID-19, ICC and WHO are surveying the private sector to gather more information about global business responses and develop solutions that will address the spread of the pandemic. The ICC-WHO survey will improve information flows between different sectors of the global economy and develop a framework for managing the economic and human consequences related to the pandemic’s spread.

This guidance paper provides technical guidance to the market on issues of force majeure, elements to consider in modifying ICC rules for specific trade finance instruments, and common scenarios experiences in the delivery of documents during the public health measures undertaken in response to COVID-19.

Comprehensive in its guidance, the paper reviews provisions from several ICC rules, including the Uniform Customs & Practice for Documentary Credits (UCP 600) and its eRules (eUCP 600 2.0), the Uniform Rules for Demand Guarantees (URDG 758), the Uniform Rules for Collections (URC 522) and its eRules (eURC 522), the Uniform Rules for Bank-to-Bank Reimbursements under Documentary Credits (URR 725) and the Uniform Rules for Bank Payment Obligations (URBPO 750).

This guidance paper aims only to share practical views and guidance from experts in the management of Trade Finance transactions during this exceptional period of time.

All decisions taken with regard to a trade finance transaction that follows this guideline will be understood to be taken under the full responsibility and agreement of the parties involved.

Please find attached the guidance paper on impact of covid-19 on ICC Trade Finance rules

We are pleased to share with you the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation’s Annual Report 2019. The report provides a snapshot of the Alliance’s achievements this past year, many of which serve as a springboard for what we hope to achieve in 2020. As the global Covid-19 pandemic highlights the vital importance of smooth, efficient trade in getting essential goods to those who need them, it also underlines the importance of this work. 

The report sets out how, in a year when the multilateral trading system has been under pressure, the Alliance is pioneering a new multilateralism - an alliance far broader, more inclusive and human than our traditional notion of the term: governments, regulators, businesses and civil society across the globe working together on reforms that can support inclusive economic growth, help small and medium sized enterprises to grow, create jobs, and improve lives. The ongoing crisis only serves to highlight the importance of this type of collaboration. 

Given the many disruptions to business operations in light of COVID-19, and resulting questions on Force Majeure clauses in commercial contracts, we are pleased to provide this guidance document.

We trust you will find this useful.

As the world business organization representing more than 45 million companies in over 100 countries, ICC, along with our educational arm the ICC Academy, will be hosting a series of livecasts and webinars on COVID-19 in the coming weeks, free of charge. As part of the COVID-19 response, the series topics will focus on three core areas: health (to speed the health response to COVID-19), economy (to keep trade flowing to restore growth and safeguard jobs), and at a later stage recovery (to maintain momentum on reform of the trading system).

To view the recorded sessions and upcoming ones, visit COVID-19 resource page on COVID-19 resource page.