ICC commended on June 13 G8 leaders for continuing to address the complicated and growing epidemic of counterfeiting and piracy at the annual G8 Summit, but expressed disappointment at the lack of substance on these issues in the outcome statement released at the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm last week.

On June 12 ICC welcomed the declaration on the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations issued at the G8 Summit last week in Heiligendamm, Germany and called on G8 leaders to translate their pledges into concrete progress at the negotiating table in the coming weeks.

ICC has welcomed progress negotiated at the G8 Summit last week in Heiligendamm, Germany addressing the challenge of climate change.

ICC Secretary General Guy Sebban last week participated in the launch of the first annual European Vector awards in recognition of the growing international reputation of Ukrainian companies.

Two training events will be held this month to help letter of credit practitioners prepare to use ICC's revised rules on documentary credits, also known as UCP 600, which take effect on 1 July 2007.

The summary of the counterfeiting and piracy study released today by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) represents the most comprehensive and thorough investigation of the problem ever conducted, and a vital step towards a more complete understanding of the scope and harmful effects of this illegal activity, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) said.

Lars Josefsson, Chief Executive Officer of Vattenfall and Climate Change Counsel to German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the upcoming G8 Summit, last week made a presentation on Vattenfall's 3C Initiative on climate change to ICC's Commission on Environment and Energy.

The leaders of the G8 must take bigger, bolder steps to beat back counterfeiting and piracy, the International Chamber of Commerce said on May 25th in a letter sent to G8 leaders in advance of their Summit Meeting in Heiligendamm, Germany.

The ICC Banking Commission has given the go-ahead to begin a revision of the ICC Uniform Rules on Demand Guarantees (URDG).

Judges have finished evaluating the entries for the 2007 World Chambers Competition and have announced the 20 finalists who have made it to the last round of the competition, which will take place in Istanbul in July.

The UN Commission for Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) must deepen the involvement of all stakeholders and address the requirements of business to build an information society accessible to all, ICC Secretary General Guy Sebban said in an opening address at the two-day CSTD meeting from 21-22 May.

Even at this desperately late hour, a good deal can be struck in the Doha round of multilateral trade talks if G8 leaders intensify their diplomatic efforts, the International Chamber of Commerce said today in its annual statement on behalf of the world business community to the heads of state and government who will attend the G8 summit.