Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI)

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHAMBER

The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry support the government to bring Bangladesh
Miracle into reality for ensuring potential economic growth in the country. Metropolitan Chamber of
Commerce and Industry is shortly called MCCI. It was founded in 1904. Metropolitan Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (MCCI) is the oldest and the pre-eminent trade organization of Bangladesh. Its
membership roll encompasses leading commercial and large industrial organizations of the country,
including public sector corporations and local as well as multinational companies. Presently, almost all
major enterprises of the manufacturing and service sector are among its members. The Chamber provides
a wide range of professional services to its members.
The Chambers services, developed over a long period, are comprehensive and cover specialized areas
such as taxation, import-export, tariff and non-tariff measures, investment, WTO matters and other
national and international economic and commercial concerns. The Chamber maintains a secretariat
manned by professional staff. It offers secretarial services to the Bangladesh Employers Federation
(BEF), the lone national level organization of employers in the country dealing with industrial relations,
occupational safety and health, workplace cooperation, skills development, labor law and other laborrelated issues.
The Chambers policy recommendations and inputs related to ongoing reforms have gained wide
acceptance amongst government and policy makers. MCCI has earned recognition at home and abroad by
offering services such as issuing certificate of origin, through conducting economic research and sector
surveys, offering trade and investment facilitation services, legal services, information management and
dissemination, and with publications related to trade and commerce.
Bangladesh has a potential to grow faster and hopefully in the current fiscal year the country will get rid
of this average growth rate, he said adding that the development would continue in the next five years.
Bangladesh succeeded to overcome the global crisis following two strategies - maintaining strong
domestic demand and keeping pace in internal resource mobilization, he said. Commerce minister Tofail
Ahmed said that Bangladesh was going to become a rice exporting country from once food shortage one.
The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) is most popular for their award giving.
This award encourage all the business organization for develop the business situation in Bangladesh
besides it made a evaluation process for all the leading business company. This year MCCI gave
Centenary Awards to 20 businesses and individuals for their outstanding performances and contribution
to society. This year they provided award in 12 categories to those several companies. ACI &
TRANSCOM won award in corporate good governance and improving business environment.

Mission and Vision of the chamber:

Their vision is Be the leading voice serving responsible business. On the other hand their mission is
firstly, Become the leading Chamber for providing research and analysis support related to business in
Bangladesh. Secondly, attract quality membership, representative of a cross section of business. Thirdly,
effectively respond to the changing needs of our members. Fourthly, enhance our capabilities through
collaboration with local and international institutions. Besides, engage and communicate regularly with
our stakeholders. As well as, recognize best practices that benefit business and society

SECRETARIAT:
The Chamber Secretariat is manned by a team of 65 employees. It is headed by the SecretaryGeneral. The important departments of the Secretariat are as under:
a. Economic Research Cell: The Economic Research Cell is headed by a leading Economist of the
country and consists of senior officers holding post graduate degrees in Economics. It compiles
various data on production, cost of living index, imports and exports, etc. Besides, this Cell is
engaged in preparing position papers on different economic topics relevant of Chambers activities.
These papers are used to analyze the problems by the countrys economy.
b. Taxation Department: The taxation Cell is headed by a retired Commissioner of Income Tax and
prepares Chambers proposals for the Government budget giving suggestions on income tax, sales
tax, custom duty, excise duty, VAT etc. It also gives services to member-firms on their day-to-day
tax problems. It follows up Chambers representation on different tax matters.
c. Certificate Section: The department is well known named as CO Section in the Chamber is
responsible for the issuance, amend and verify various types of certificates like Certificate of Origin
(CO). Side by side the Chamber attested various types of documents like copy of Company
Registration file, agreements etc needed for doing business in home and abroad.
d. Pre Shipment/Quality Survey Department: This cell is engaged in handling pre-shipment quality
inspection survey of jute and jute goods. On request, it can also survey other export cargos. It also
legalizes export documents which are needed by the buyers of almost all countries.
e. Chamber Library: The Chamber has a library with a very good collection of rare books on

commerce, industry, law, arbitration etc. It also maintains important and rare gazette notifications
which are often used by Government offices for reference purpose.