CCCI Information Sheets
CCCI Information Sheets > Chamber History
Chamber History
The Beginning of Good Business Sense
Chambers of Commerce and Industry began in 1599, in Marseilles, France. The long history proves the good sense involved, and with the high exposure gained from groups like the Venetian Maritime Traders and the Hanseatic League, Chambers of Commerce now exist in every western industrialized country today.
In France, royal decrees in 1701-02 established Chambers of Commerce throughout France, their role to advise the state on economic situations, and answer economic questions. European countries soon followed Frances example, and by the middle of the 19th century, nearly every single European country had some Chambers of Commerce of their own.
French and European Chambers of Commerce differ greatly in structure to western versions. This is because in most European countries, Public law is predominant. This system dictates that membership to a chamber is compulsory to all businesses, and Chambers are regulated by public law and are a public law body.
In British-influenced and Nordic countries, Private law systems are predominate. Under this legal system the most important factor in establishing an effective Chamber of Commerce is the will of the business community to operate efficiently at a regional level.
Croydon Chamber of Commerce and Industry operates under private law, as a registered non-profit organization.
When viewed against groups like one that visited Melbourne from the City of Palermo, taking business back to Italy on behalf of its 93,000 members, Australian Chambers of Commerce are lacking in organisation and cohesion. It is a logical step to form our own collective group to be able to compete with aggressive international groups. Croydon Chamber of Commerce (with MERCCI) aims to unsure that businesses in the East of Melbourne are speaking with a united voice, and to use their collective A-Political status to influence government ensure that the eastern region is highly transparent, highly efficient and importantly, highly profitable.
The History of the CCCI (11Kb)
