International Chamber of Commerce first female chair arrives in Sri Lanka

International Chamber of Commerce Chairperson Maria Fernanda Garza on her arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday flanked by ICC Sri Lanka Chairman Anthony M. Shanil Fernando (right) and Secretary Hemakumara Gunasekera 

– Pic by Kapila Perera

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) first-ever female chair Maria Fernanda Garza arrived yesterday on an official visit to Sri Lanka.

The ICC, representing 170 countries with a corporate membership of 45 million companies, is the largest and most influential business organisation globally. Only Chamber to be represented in the United Nations, WTO and WIPO. Her first visit to Sri Lanka will encompass meetings with business and Government leaders. She will also participate in the bell ringing ceremony at the Colombo Stock Exchange today in commemoration of 100 years of ICC arbitration. 

ICC Sri Lanka Chairman Anthony M. Shanil Fernando who received Garza on her arrival, said her commitment to the global business community has earned her a prominent position in the international business arena. Her extensive experience underscores her dedication to business ethics and corporate governance standards.

Fernando said ICC Sri Lanka has played a pivotal role in fostering business growth and global connectivity in the nation for over the past 68 years in Sri Lanka.

“We look forward to working with Maria, in advancing ICC’s mission to make business work for everyone, every day, everywhere,” Fernando added.

ICC Sri Lanka plays a significant role in trade and investment, arbitration, and facilitation in Sri Lanka, through its 10 specialised committees that speak with authority on behalf of enterprises from all sectors present in the country including banking, insurance, training and education, finance, international relations and tourism and the agriculture, SME support, entrepreneurship development. The Agriculture Policy and Food Safety and Supply Chain Committee, launched in 2021, aims to provide support to companies in the sector to help them navigate pressing challenges to food security. ICC also provides a platform for engagement, in governance, sustainability, anti-corruption and advocacy in best practices. ICC Banking committee which meets monthly and is represented by all the banks operating in Sri Lanka, meets quarterly with Sri Lanka Customs to accelerate trade facilitation.

Garza has served as an ICC Executive Board member since 2014 and is the ICC Regional Coordinator for the Americas and a member of the governing body of the ICC International Court of Arbitration.

A strong advocate of business ethics and corporate governance standards, Garza was Chair of ICC Mexico until June 2020 and is a former member of the International Affairs Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Labour and former member of the National Advisory Committee of ACLAN. Garza was Vice-President of the Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic (Coparmex) and was also a member of the Compliance Committee of Infonavit. She is a Board Member of the Corporate Responsibility Alliance AliaRSE and was a member of the Corporate Responsibility Network of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD.