Regional Chamber Council Launched in Bogotá
The newly formed body aims to expand cross-border commercial opportunities for businesses operating across the Americas.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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The Council of Chambers of Commerce of the Americas held its inaugural General Assembly in Bogotá, uniting 36 chambers from more than 16 countries. The Curaçao Chamber of Commerce joined as a founding member to foster regional trade collaboration.
Why it matters
The Council intends to strengthen international cooperation and create new commercial opportunities for member businesses. The organization plans to implement market intelligence and trade missions to help operators navigate cross-border activity.
The new body brings together 36 Chambers of Commerce from over 16 countries. A quorum of 33 voting members participated in the Bogotá meeting to establish the organization.
The players
Ovidio Claros Polanco
The President of the Council of Chambers of Commerce of the Americas.
Curaçao Chamber of Commerce
A business advocacy organization that joined the Council as a founding member.
Council of Chambers of Commerce of the Americas
A regional trade body representing 36 chambers across more than 16 countries.
The details
The Council will operate through a work plan covering 2026-2027, focusing on regional trade infrastructure. Proposed initiatives include a Value Chains Working Group, a regional Business Climate Barometer, and programs focused on women's economic empowerment. These structures aim to standardize trade matchmaking and improve access to market intelligence for firms operating within the member regions.
Timeline
September 24, 2026: The news of membership was published.
2026-2027: The approved work plan covers this period.
Market Landscape
The launch of the Council represents a regional effort to formalize cross-border commercial channels. This mirrors broader integration patterns similar to the European Union's Single Market trade integration protocols by establishing centralized trade intelligence and matchmaking.
Operators in the Americas should monitor the upcoming Business Climate Barometer for new regional market intelligence. Firms should evaluate whether their local chamber of commerce is engaging with these new trade mission initiatives to identify potential cross-border partners.
The takeaway
The Council aims to lower barriers for regional trade through standardized business matchmaking and working groups. Operators should track the 2026-2027 work plan implementation to see how these resources impact competitive access in their specific industry vertical.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts, visit the Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Curaçao Chronicle.
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