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Delegationsreise Anhui Verband der Kabel- und Drahtindustrie
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Thailand Chamber of Commerce Act
(DEFINITIONS)
Section 1. (Citation)
This Act is called the “Chamber of Commerce Act, B. E. 2509″
Section 2. (Enforcement)
This Act shall come into force as from the day following the date of its publication in the Government Gazette. (Published in the Government Gazette, Vol. 83, Part 38, dated 26th April, B. E. 2509 (1996))
Section 3. (Other Laws)
All other laws, rules and regulations, in so far as they are already provided in, or are contrary to or in consistent with the provisions of this Act, shall be replaced by this Act.
Chapter 1 General Provisions
Section 4. (Definitions)
In this Act:
“Chamber of Commerce” means an institution established by several persons of the promotion of trade, industry, agriculture, finance or economy other than for sharing profit or income;
“State enterprise” means a State enterprise under the Law on Budgetary Procedure exclusively where it is a juristic person and its objects concern trade, industry, agriculture, finance or economy;
“Co-operative Society” means a Co-operative Society under the Law on Co-operative Societies exclusively where its objects concern trade, industry, agriculture, finance or economy;
“Registrar” means the Central Chamber of Commerce Registrar or the Changwat Chamber of Commerce Registrar, as the case may be;
“Official” means a person appointed by the Minister to carry out this Act;
“Minister” means the Minister of State having charge and control of the execution of this Act.
Section 5. (Execution by Minister of Economic Affairs)
The Minister of Economic Affairs shall have charge and control of the execution of this Act, and shall have the power to appoint officials and to issue Ministerial Regulations prescribing fees not exceeding the rates attached to this Act and prescribing other activities for the purpose of carrying out this Act.
Such Ministerial Regulations shall come into force upon their publication in the Government Gazette.
Chapter 2 Establishment of a Chamber of Commerce
Section 6. (Chamber Categories)
Chambers of commerce are of categories, as follow:
(1) Changwat Chamber of Commerce;
(2) Thai Chamber of Commerce;
(3) Foreign Chamber of Commerce;
(4) Council of the Chambers of Commerce of Thailand.
Section 7. (Registration Office)
There shall be established a Central Chamber of Commerce Registration Office in the Department of Internal trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs, in order to control the issue of a license and the registration of chambers of commerce throughout the Kingdom, and also to function as the Chamber of Commerce registration office for Changwat phra nakorn and Changwat Thon Buri.
There shall be established, in Changwat other than Changwat Phra Nakorn and Changwat Thon Buri, the Changwat Chamber of Commerce Registration Office to be directly under the supervision of the Central Chamber of Commerce Registration of Office.
The Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade shall be the Central Chamber of Commerce Registrar and the Chamber of Commerce Registrar for Changwat Phra Nakorn and Changwat Thon Buri, and the Governors of Changwat other than Changwat Phra Nakorn and Changwat Thon Buri shall be the Changwat Chamber of Commerce Registrars.
Section 8. (License Requirement)
No person shall establish a Chamber of Commerce unless a license has been obtained from the Registrar.
A branch of a Chamber of Commerce may not be established.
Section 9. (Number of Applicants)
In applying for a license, not less than five promoters shall file an application with the Registrar in accordance with the requirements and procedures prescribed in the Ministerial Regulation.
Section 10. (Requirements for Registration)
When the Registrar has received an application for a license and, having considered the application, he is of the opinion that no regulation is contrary to the law, is a threat to the economy or security of the country or public order or good morals, and that the promoters are of good status and conduct, he shall grant and issue a Chamber of Commerce license to the applicants and shall thereafter register the Chamber of Commerce.
If the Registrar gives an order of refusal, he shall notify the applicants of the order, in writing, without delay. The applicants have a right to appeal against the order by filing an appeal, in writing, with the Minister within fifteen days from the day of the receipt of the notification thereof. The decision of the Minister shall be final.
The Central Chamber of Commerce Registrar shall publish the grant of a license to establish a Chamber of Commerce and the dissolution thereof in the Government Gazette
Section 11. (Juristic Person)
A Chamber of Commerce, which has been granted a license and registered, shall become a juristic person.
Section 12. (License Substitute)
If a Chamber of Commerce license is lost or destroyed, the Chamber of Commerce shall apply for a license substitute.
Section 13. (Regulations Requirements)
A Chamber of Commerce must have regulations, and such regulations must, at least contain the following particulars:
(1) name;
(2) objects;
(3) office address;
(4) procedures for admitting and excluding a member to and from the Chamber of Commerce, as well as the rights and duties of a member;
(5) the operation of the Chamber of Commerce, the appointment, retirement and meeting of the directors, as well as the general meeting.
The regulations of a Chamber of Commerce must be registered with the Registrar at the same time of the filing of an application to establish the Chamber of Commerce. If the Registrar considers it appropriate, he may order the regulations to be amended before issuing a license.
Section 14. (Changwat Chamber of Commerce)
Only one Changwat Chamber of Commerce may be established and may exist in each Changwat, except in Changwat Phra Nakorn and Changwat Thon Buri where there shall be only one Changwat Chamber of Commerce called the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
Only one foreign Chamber of Commerce for each nationality may be established and may exist exclusively in Changwat Phra Nakorn or in Changwat Thon Buri.
Section 15. (Council of Chambers)
The Council of the Chambers of Commerce of Thailand may be established jointly by the Thai Chamber of Commerce, foreign chambers of commerce, trade associations, State enterprises and co-operative societies.
Section 16. (Name and Name-Plate)
The name of a Chamber of Commerce must be in Thai characters, but may be accompanied by foreign characters after or below the Thai characters, and the name used must only be that contained in the regulations. No instiution shall use the phrases, “Changwat Chamber of Commerce, Thai Chamber of Commerce, Foreign Chamber of Commerce or the Commerce of the Council of the Chambers of Commerec of Thailand”, or that of a similar meaning, as a part of its name without being a Chamber of Commerce under this Act.
A Chamber of Commerce shall have a clearly legible name-plate placed in front of its office.
Section 17. (Name Restriction)
No person, not being a Chamber of Commerce, shall use a name containing “Chamber of Commerce” or “The Council of the Chambers of Commerce of Thailand” in Thai characters of foreign characters which can be translated or read as “Chamber of Commerce” or “The Council of the Chambers of Commerce of Thailand” in a seal, name-plate, letter, notice, or other business documents except in an application to establish a Chamber of Commerce.
Section 18. (Enquiry)
The Registrar shall have the power to issue a written order requiring any person to appear for enquiry or to send a document for the purpose of the consideration concerning an application to establish a Chamber of Commerce.
Chapter 3 Member and Board of Directors of a Chamber of Commerce
Section 19. (Types of Membership)
Members of a Chamber of Commerce are only 4 categories, as follows:
(1) ordinary member;
(2) extraordinary member;
(3) associate member;
(4) honorary member;
Only an ordinary member has a right to be elected as a director of the Chamber of Commerce
Section 20. (Domicile of Members)
Subject to section 21, a member of a Changwat Chamber of Commerce must have a domicile in the Changwat where such Chamber of Commerce is situated, and must be a natural person of Thai nationality of a juristic person of which partners or shareholders holding more than one-half of its capital are of Thai nationality, and is a person engaged in a trading, industrial, agricultural, financial or economic enterprise, or must be a trade association more than one-half of the total number of members of which are of Thai nationality or must be a State enterprise or a Co-operative Society.
A natural person or a juristic person, not being of Thai nationality, or a trade association, more than one-half of whose total number of members are aliens, may only be an Associate member of a Changwat Chamber of Commerce.
A Changwat Chamber of Commerce must be a member of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
Section 21. (Thai Chamber of Commerce)
The Thai Chamber of Commerce consists of members having domicile in Changwat Phra Nakorn or Changwat Thon Buri, who are natural persons of Thai nationality or juristic persons of which partners or shareholders holding more than one-half of its capital are of Thai nationality, and are persons engaged in trading, industrial, agricultural, financial, or economic enterprises, or are State enterprises, or co-operative societies of Changwat chambers of commerce.
Section 22. (Foreign Chambers)
A foreign Chamber of Commerce consists of members who have domicile in Changwat Phra Nakorn or Changwat Thon Buri the majority of which are natural persons of a foreign nationality or juristic persons of which partners of shareholders holding more than one-half of its capital inclusive of that of its branches registered abroad, are of a foreign nationality, and are persons engaged in trading, industrial, agricultural, financial or economic enterprises.
A foreign Chamber of Commerce must be a member of the Council of the Chambers of commerce of Thailand.
Section 23. (Council of Chambers)
The Council of the Chambers of Commerce of Thailand consists of members who are representatives of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the number of which is not less than one-half of the number of members of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce of Thailand, five representatives from each of the foreign chambers of commerce, two representatives from each trade association, State enterprise, and Co-operative Society.
A natural person or juristic person, being a member of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, a foreign Chamber of Commerce, a trade association or a Co-operative Society, may only be an associate member of the Council of the Chambers Commerce of Thailand.
Section 24. (Board)
The Boards of the Chambers of commerce shall be as follows:
(1) The Board of the Changwat Chamber of Commerce, consisting of the directors elected from ordinary members by the general meeting, of the number in accordance with the regulations of such Changwat Chamber of Commerce;
(2) The Board of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, consisting of the directors elected from ordinary members by the general meeting, of the number in accordance with the regulations of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, but not less than three of whom must be elected from the members who are the representatives of the various Changwat chambers of commerce;
(3) The Board of a foreign Chamber of Commerce, consisting of the directors elected from ordinary members by the general meeting of the foreign Chamber of Commerce, of the number in accordance with the regulations of such foreign Chamber of Commerce;
(4) The Board of the Council of the Chambers Commerce of Thailand consisting of:
(a) Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce as its ex-officio Chairman;
(b) two Vice-Chairmen; the Board of the Council of the Chambers of Commerce of Thailand shall elect the first Vice-Chairman from the directors of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the second Vice-Chairman from the directors of the foreign chambers of commerce;
(c) every Chairman of a foreign Chamber of Commerce as a director;
(d) members representing the trade associations, totalling four in number, elected by the general meeting of the Council of the Chambers of Commerce of Thailand, as directors;
(e) members representing the Thai Chamber of Commerce of the number equal to those of the directors in (c) and (d) together elected by the general meeting of the Council of the Chambers of Commerce of Thailand, as directors;
(f) members representing the State enterprises and the co-operative societies, totalling
Chapter 4 Operation of a Chamber of Commerce
Section 25. (Authorization of Operations)
A Chamber of Commerce shall have a Board to operate the Chamber of Commerce and to be its representative in dealing with outsiders. For this purpose, the Board may authorize one or more directors to act on its behalf.
Section 26. (Vacation of Office)
Apart from the retirement under the regulations of a Chamber of Commerce, a director of the Chamber of Commerce shall vacate his office upon being a bankrupt or punished by a final judgement under this Act, and is henceforth disqualified from being a director in any Chamber of Commerce unless a period of three years has elapsed from the discharge from bankruptcy or the day of the discharge from punishment.
Section 27. (Examination)
A member of a Chamber of Commerce has a right to demand the examination of the activities and the property of the Chamber of Commerce by filling a written application with the Chamber of Commerce.
Section 28. (Duties of a Chamber)
A Chamber of Commerce shall have the following duties:
(1) to promote trade, industry, agriculture, finance and economy in general, such as to collect statistics, to disseminate trade information, to research in connection with trade and economy, to promote tourism, to issue a certificate of the origin of goods, to fix the quality standard of goods, to check the standard of goods, to establish and operate an educational establishment concerning trade and economy, to establish and operate a trade centre, to arrange a trade exhibition, to be an arbitrator in a trade dispute;
(2) to give advice and make recommendation to a member concerning trade, industry, agriculture, finance or economy, and to provide various facilities in the business operation of a member;
(3) to give advice and make recommendation to the government for the economic development of the country;
(4) to co-ordinate in trading between persons engaged in trade and the government;
(5) to conduct other activities as may be specified by law to be the duties of the Chamber of Commerce, or as may be entrusted by the government.
Section 29. (Restricted Activities)
Subject to section 28, a Chamber of Commerce shall not act in any of the following:
(1) engaging itself in an enterprise, or managing an enterprise of its member, or participation in, holding the shares of, being a partner or contributing capital to, the engagement of an enterprise with any person;
(2) acting in any way to suppress or increase the price of goods or service excessively or causing unstability concerning the price of goods or services;
(3) giving or lending money to a member or any other persons except for public charity or under a moral obligation or social appropriateness;
(4) acting in any way to increase, reduce or restrict production, amount of goods distributed or other services, and such action is detrimental to the domestic or foreign market of trade, finance, or economy of the country;
(5) acting in any way to destroy competition which may normally be entertained in the engagement of an enterprise except where it is an implementation of a governmental policy or regulation;
(6) acting in any way that may be a threat to the economy or security of the country or to public order or good morals;
(7) obstructing or preventing any person who is qualified to be a member under the regulations of the Chamber of Commerce from becoming a member, or forcing a person in any way against his will to become a member, or forcing a member by a dishonest motive to resign from the Chamber of Commerce, or contrary to the regulations of the Chamber of Commerce;
(8) disclosing statistics, documents or information concerning the private interest of any member except with a written consent from such member;
(9) authorizing or permitting any person who is not a director to perform the duty of a director.
Section 30. (Non-profit)
A Chamber of Commerce shall not distribute profit or income among its members, or carry on a political activity.
Chapter 5 Control of a Chamber of Commerce
Section 31. (Supervision)
The Registrar shall have the power to issue the written order requiring a director or member to appear and explain a fact concerning the activities of the Chamber of Commerce or to send a document concerning its operation or minutes of its meeting.
Section 32. (Inspection)
For the purpose of carrying out this Act, the Registrar of the official shall have the power to enter the office of a Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of inspection during its office hours.
In acting under paragraph one, the official shall show his identity card to the person concerned.
The identity card shall be in the form prescribed by the Minister.
In the action of the Registrar of the official under paragraph one, the person concerned shall provide reasonable facilities or assistance, or give information to the registrar of the official as requested.
Section 33. (Membership Register)
A Chamber of Commerce shall prepare a membership register to be kept in the office of the Chamber of Commerce, and shall deliver a copy thereof to the Registrar within a period of ninety days from the day of obtaining a license and being registered as a Chamber of Commerce. The membership register shall at least contain the following particulars:
(1) name and nationality of the member;
(2) name used in the engagement of the enterprise and category of the enterprise;
(3) address of the office of the member;
(4) date of membership.
When there is an admission of a new member or a change in the membership register, the Chamber of Commerce shall notify the Registrar to that effect within a period of ninety days from the day of the admission or change.
Section 34. (Balance Sheet)
A Chamber of Commerce shall prepare its balance sheet at least once in every twelve nonths, which constitutes its accounting year.
The blalnce sheet must contain the amount of the assets and liabilities of the Chamber of Commerce together with an account of income and expenditure. The balance sheet must be completed and audited and then submitted to a general meeting of the Chamber of Commerce for approval within a period of one hundred and twenty days from the last day of the accounting year.
Section 35. (Annual Report)
A Chamber of Commerce shall prepare an annual report showing the result of the operation of the Chamber of Commerce to be submitted to a general meeting at the time of the submission of the balance sheet, and shall deliver a copy of the report and that of the balance sheet to the Registrar within a period of thirty days from the day of the general meeting.
Section 36. (Amendment of Regulations)
An amendment to the regulations of a Chamber of Commerce may be made only by a resolution of a general meeting, and must be registered with the registrar within a period of thirty days from the day of the resolution of the general meeting. If the Registrar considers that such amendment is inconsistent with the objects of the Chamber of Commerce or contrary to the law, he shall not register such amendment.
If the Registrar refuses to register and amendment to the regulations, section 10 paragraph two, shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Section 37. (Replacement of Directors)
The appointment or replacement of a director of a Chamber of Commerce must be registered with the registrar within a period of thirty days from the day of the appointment or replacement.
If the Registrar considers that the person appointed as a director to be of an inappropriate status or of bad conduct, or has a reasonable cause to suspect that such person may be a threat to the economy or security of the country or to public order or good morals, he has the power to refuse to register such person a director of the Chamber of Commerce.
Section 38. (Public Documentation)
Any person, who wishes to examine, copy, or have copied and certified, a document concerning a Chamber of Commerce, shall make an application in the form described by the Central Chamber of Commerce Registrar.
Section 39. (Threatening Action)
When it appears that the Board, a director or a member of a Chamber of Commerce, does any act which may be a threat to the economy or security of the country, or to public order or good morals, the Registrar shall have the power to issue a written order requiring the Board, the director or the member to stop such action or to rectify it within a period of time prescribed by the Registrar.
Section 40. (Ministerial Replacement Order)
When a Chamber of Commerce does an act which violates section 29, the Minister has the power to order the whole Board or an individual director to vacate his office. In such case, the Board or the director is disqualified from being a director of the Chamber of Commerce unless a period of three years has elapsed from the day of the order of the Minister to vacate the office.
Section 41. (Unlawful Action)
When there is a cause to suspect that any Chamber of Commerce is to act unlawfully or to be a threat to the economy or security of the country, or to public order or good morals, the Registrar shall have the power to issue a written order requiring the Chamber of Commerce to notify him at least three days in advance of the date and time of every meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. In such case, the Registrar or the official shall have the power to attend the meeting.
Where any Chamber of Commerce fails to notify the date and time of its meeting in accordance with the order of the registrar, the Registrar shall have the power to order the Chamber of Commerce to suspend its meeting, each time, for not more than ninety days from the day the Registrar issues the order. In case the Registrar issues an order suspending a meeting, section 20 paragraph two, shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Section 42. (Unlawful Resolution)
If the general meeting of the Chamber of Commerce passes a resolution in violation of a law or its regulations, upon the request of any member or an official, the Registrar shall have the power to revoke such resolution. But in case a member requests for the revocation, he shall so request within a period of thirty days from the day of the passing of such resolution.
Section 43. (Ministerial Dissolution Order)
The Minister shall have the power to dissolve a Chamber of Commerce upon the following events:
(1) When it appears that an action of the Chamber of Commerce is contrary to the law or is a threat to the economy or security of the country, or to public order or good morals;
(2) When the Chamber of Commerce does an act in violation of section 29, and such act is a serious harm;
(3) When the Chamber of Commerce is unable to continue its operation or has ceased its operation for two years or upward;
(4) When it appears that the Chamber of Commerce authorizes or permits another person who is not a director to perform the duty of a director.
Any director of the Chamber of Commerce, of which dissolution the Minister orders under (1), (2) or (4) who participated in the act which causes the Minister to order its dissolution, is disqualified from being a director of the Chamber of Commerce unless period of three years has elapsed from the day the Minister issues the order to dissolve the Chamber of Commerce.
Chapter 6 Dissolution of a Chamber of Commerce
Section 44. (Reasons for Dissolution)
A Chamber of Commerce is dissolved upon any of the following causes:
(1) upon the resolution of the general meeting for its dissolution;
(2) upon being bankrupt;
(3) upon the order of the Minister under section 43 for its dissolution.
The Chamber of Commerce dissolved under (1) or (2) shall notify the Registrar of the dissolution within a period of fifteen days from the day of the occurrence of the cause for its dissolution.
Section 45. (Revocation of License)
Subject to section 10 paragraph three, when a Chamber of Commerce is dissolved upon any cause specified in section 44, the Registrar shall revoke the license and delete the name of the Chamber of Commerce from the Register. In such case, it shall be deemed that the Chamber of Commerce may continue to act only as far as it is necessary for the purpose of liquidation.
Section 46. (Dissolution Procedings)
The provisions of the Civil and Commercial code on the liquidation of registered partnerships, limited partnerships and limited companies shall apply mutatis mutandis to the liquidation of a Chamber of Commerce dissolved under section 44.
Section 47. (Transfer of Property)
After the liquidation, the remaining property, if any, may not be distributed among the members of the Chamber of Commerce. Such property must be transferred to another juristic person the objects of which concern a public charity specified in the regulations of the Chamber of Commerce. If no juristic person is specified, it shall be transferred to any juristic person the objects of which concern a public charity, as may be resolved by the general meeting. In cases other than as mentioned above, the remaining property shall vest in the State.
Chapter 7 Penalties
Section 48. (Chamber Without License)
Any person who violates section 8 shall be liable to imprisonment for not more than one year or to a fine of not more than ten thousand Baht or to both.
Section 49. (Member of Chamber Without License)
Any person who is member of a Chamber of Commerce not licensed under section 8 shall be liable to a fine of not more than two thousand Baht.
Section 50. (Missing Name-Plate)
Any person who violates section 16 shall be liable to a fine of not more than one thousand Baht and an additional fine of not more than fifty Baht a day until rectification is made.
Section 51. (Misuse of Name)
Any person who violates section 17 shall be liable to a fine of not more than two thousand Baht and an additional fine of not more than fifty Baht a day until cessation of such use.
Section 52. (Refusal of Registrar Examination)
Any person who fails to comply with the order of the Registrar under section 18 or section 31, or fails to comply with section 32 paragraph four, shall be liable to a fine of not more than one thousand Baht.
Section 53. (Refusal of Member Examination)
Any Chamber of Commerce which refuses to allow its member to examine the activities and property of such Chamber of Commerce under section 27 shall be liable to a fine of not more than one thousand Baht.
Section 54. (Restricted Activities and Profit Distribution)
Any Chamber of Commerce which violates section 29 or section 30 shall be liable to a fine of not more than fifty thousand Baht.
Section 55. (Violation by Director)
Any director of a Chamber of Commerce who violates section 29, or does an act contrary to its objects and such act is a threat to the economy and security of the country, or to public order or good morals, shall be liable to a fine of not more than thirty thousand Baht.
Section 56. (Reporting Violations)
Any Chamber of Commerce which violates section 3, section 34, section 35, section 36 or section 37 paragraph one, shall be liable to a fine of not more than one thousand Baht.
Section 57. (Threatening and Unlawful Actions)
Any person who fails to comply with the order of the Registrar under section 39 or section 41 paragraph one or paragraph two, shall be liable to a fine of not more than two thousand Baht.
Section 58. (Refusal of Replacement and Dissolution)
Any person who violates section 40 or remains a director or a Chamber of Commerce which has been dissolved under section 44 or section 61 paragraph three, shall be liable to imprisonment for not more than two years or to a fine of not more than twenty thousand Baht or to both.
Section 59. (Bankruptcy)
Any Chamber of Commerce which violates section 44 paragraph two, or fails to comply with section 46, shall be liable to a fine of not more than one thousand Baht.
Section 60. (Unlawful Removal of Property)
Any person who violates section 47 shall be liable to imprisonment for not more than one year or to a fine of not more than ten thousand Baht or to both.
Transitory Provisions
Section 61. (Conversion)
Every Chamber of Commerce, board of trade, or association having the same characteristics or objects as those of a Chamber of Commerce which was registered under the Civil and Commercial Code prior to the day this Act comes into force, must, if it wishes to become a Chamber of Commerce license within a period of ninety days from the day this Act comes into force. And when it has been licensed as a Chamber of Commerce under this Act, the Registrar of Associations under the Civil and Commercial Code shall delete the name of such Chamber of Commerce, board of trade or association from the Register of Associations.
All the property and liabilities of a Chamber of Commerce, board of trade or association having the same characteristics or objects as those of a Chamber of Commerce licensed and registered under this Act shall be transferred to the newly established Chamber of Commerce.
If a Chamber of Commerce, board of trade, or association having the same characteristics and object as those of a Chamber of Commerce registered as an association under the Civil and Commercial Code, does not apply for a Chamber of Commerce license under this Act within the period of time mentioned in paragraph one, it shall be deemed dissolved, and the Registrar of Associations under the Civil and Commercial Code shall delete the name of such Chamber of Commerce, board of trade or association from the Register of Associations.
If a Chamber of Commerce, board of trade or association having the same characteristics or objects as those of a Chamber of Commerce is dissatisfied with the order of the Registrar under the Civil and Commercial Code to have its name deleted from the Register of Associations, it has a right to appeal against such order, by filling a written appeal with the Minister within a period of fifteen days from the day of the receipt of the order. The decision of the order of the Minister shall be final.
Countersigned By:
Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn
Prime Minister
Rates of Fees
| (1) | Application form: | 2 Bath each. | |
| (2) | Chamber of Commerce license: | 500 Bath each. | |
| (3) | Chamber of Commerce license substitute: | 50 Bath each | |
| (4) | Registration of an amendment to the regulations, or of the appointment or replacement of a director: | 5 Bath each. | |
| (5) | Application to examine or copy. A document: | 5 Bath each. | |
| (6) | Application to have a document. Copied and certified: | 20 Bath each. |
Dubai Chamber Law
(DEFINITIONS)
Article 1 (Citation)
This law shall be cited as the “Law No. 8 of the year 1997 on the Organization of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry”.
Article 2 Definitions
The following words shall have the meanings indicated there unless the context otherwise requires:
The Emirates: Emirate of Dubai
The Ruler: His Highness the Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai
The Chamber: Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The Board: The Chamber’s Board of Directors
The Member: Whoever shall obtain a license to practice commercial, industrial, agricultural or vocational business, and becomes a member of the Chamber in conformity with the provisions of this law.
CHAPTER I The Chamber’s Objectives and Powers
Article 3 (Legal Status)
The Chamber is a non-profit public organization, with legal entity and financial and administrative independence. It shall have the competence to own and dispose of movable and immovable properties. It can sue and be sued. The Chamber may delegate any person that it appoints as its representative in judicial proceedings.
Article 4 (Headquarter and Branches)
The Chamber’s main headquarters shall be located in Dubai. It may establish branches or offices in the Emirate, it may also establish offices or trading centers abroad, provided that the decisions and by-laws to be issued by the Board in this regard determine the objectives of branches, offices, or centers, their functions and organizational level.
The Chamber may participate in setting up joint Chambers, provided that the agreements to be concluded for establishing such joint chambers shall determine the objectives and powers thereof.
Article 5 Objectives of the Chamber
The Chamber shall endeavor to achieve the following goals:
- Looking after the commercial, industrial, agricultural interests and other matters connected with economic and professional activities and related services, and co-operating with the competent government authorities, to organize and develop these activities so as to attain economic and social development for the community.
- Looking after the interests of the members of the chamber, providing them with the services they need to carry out their activities and commercial transactions, protecting their rights and surveying their opinions and presenting them to the departments concerned, and co-operating with the competent authorities to solve their problems.
- Encouraging co-operation between the members of the chamber and strengthening their mutual relations and their links with government establishments, business and professional organizations operating in the various economic sectors.
- Co-operating with the ministries, government departments and establishments, and with local, regional and international chambers of commerce, associations, organizations and bodies in order to coordinate actions regarding common economic, technical, and administrative matters, and to exchange expertise with regard to the Chamber’s endeavors to carry out its functions and achieve its aims.
- Undertaking to consolidate the Emirate’s economic position and to highlight its role as an international commercial and business center and to organize the functions and programmed required to promote the Emirate’s economy, and its commercial establishments, both internally and externally.
Article 6 The Chamber’s Powers
The chamber shall exercise the powers necessary for the fulfillment of its objectives, particularly:
- Registering natural and juridical persons licensed to practice the activities stipulated by Article 7 hereunder as members of the Chamber, and issuing the appropriate certificates and documents that may help them accomplish their commercial transactions.
- Issuing various types of certificates of origin for exported and re-exported goods and products. The Chamber may adopt the means that it may deem suitable to check the correctness of the presented data either by asking for the original documents indicating the place of origin of the concerned product, or by inspecting the product itself, if necessary.
- Attesting signatures and stamps, as well as certificates and contracts and other documents related to the commercial transactions that may be needed by the members of the chamber in order to accomplish their transactions.
- Nominating experts for inspecting commodities, goods and properties, and determining their types, weights and values.
- Expressing opinion on the legislation regulating various commercial and economic matters, and studying draft laws, regulations and statutes issued by the competent authorities for the regulation of the above mentioned matters.
- Suggesting economic programmes and plans and investment projects that may consolidate and enforce the Emirate’s economy or increase employment and investment opportunities; also suggesting legislation regulating commercial and economic matters, and submitting the related suggestions to competent authorities.
- Carrying out activities that promote and bolster the Emirate’s economic relations, particularly by:
- Receiving visiting trade delegations and missions, and sending trade delegations abroad.
- Holding local and international trade fairs and exhibitions, and participating therein.
- Organizing, contributing to or participating in conferences, seminars, symposia and training courses inside and outside the Emirate.
- Publishing and distributing magazines, periodicals, directories and any other commercial and specialized publications.
- Concluding cooperation agreements with similar unions, chambers, or bodies in order to foster the cooperation and the commercial relations.
- Preparing economic studies, researches, and reports on the evaluation of the various economic sectors’ performance, their orientation and development, the problems and difficulties they are facing and then presenting the conclusions of such studies to the competent authorities.
- Studying all applications presented for holding exhibitions, conferences, seminars and symposia dealing with commercial and economic matters to be held in the Emirate, and presenting the appropriate recommendation regarding the approval of such events to the competent authorities.
- Compiling information and data of economic nature, such as prices of exchanged goods, commodities, services, securities, currencies and others and issuing information thereupon, and compiling, classifying and publishing regular statistics, legislative and regulative texts.
- Supplying commercial directories, specialized books, references, scientific and other supporting publications other may help in preparing reports and studies.
- Providing advise to the members of the Chamber regarding legal, commercial, economic, or technical matters, supplying them with the available information and advising them on how to follow the procedures and apply the means that may help them protect their rights and develop their businesses.
- Contributing in the development of administrative and technical cadres in the economy and business administration. Looking for the suitable potentials and means to fulfill the foresaid objective, by establishing institutions, or centers for commercial and technical training.
- Mediating to settle commercial disputes that might arise between the members of the Chamber, or between them and other parties in order to reach amicable settlements.
- Determining the local commercial usages and expressions.
- Providing a mechanism for the settlement of commercial disputes, by supervising the conciliation and arbitration processes in conformity with the Chamber’s Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Rules.
- Owning movable and immovable properties and managing, investing, selling or mortgaging them; concluding contracts with third parties, and accepting donations.
- Participating in committees formed by ministries, departments, bodies and other institutions with the aim of studying or regulating economic matters, representing the Chamber in activities that are within its jurisdiction and other relevant activities.
- Performing all acts that may fulfill the objectives of the Chamber stipulated by Article V of this Law.
CHAPTER II Joining the Chamber
Article 7 Chamber’s Membership
- Whoever is licensed by the Emirate’s competent authority to practice any of the activities mentioned here-under shall be bound to become a member of the Chamber:
- Activities related to agriculture, animal resources and fisheries.
- Mining, quarrying and exploiting natural resources and related downstream industries.
- Converted industries.
- Distribution of electricity, water, gas and oil derivatives and related activities.
- General contracting works.
- Buying commodities and other tangible and intangible movables with the intention of selling them. Selling by public auction, brokerage, commercial agencies and intermediary activities.
- Repair and maintenance.
- Hotels and restaurants.
- Transport by land, sea and air, business connected with maritime and air transport, shipping, tourism and travel, customs clearance, loading and discharging, storage and communications in general.
- Banking, money exchange, financial establishments involved in investment, funding and crediting, and all other financial brokerage operations.
- All types of insurance.
- Buying and selling land and real estate or renting them with intention or sub-letting. Buying or renting movable properties to hire them out.
- Accounting services, consultancies, commercial, administrative and engineering studies and related technical services. Advertising and exhibition services, news agencies and offices that supply manpower and services.
- Producing, publishing and distributing newspapers, magazines and books. Radio and television activities, recording and filming studios, cinemas, theatres, entertainment and private sport clubs.
- All commercial companies or establishments practicing any type of activities which could be consistent with the activities mentioned here in above and having similar characteristics and objectives shall be bound to become members of the Chamber.
- Individuals practicing small trade or a simple vocational activity that depends on their efforts, skills and physical strength in order to gain profit that may provide their living more than any capital shall be excluded from the mandatory membership of the Chamber.
- Without prejudice to all clauses mentioned above, categories other than those indicated in paragraph (A) and paragraph (C) above may subscribe as members of the Chamber in accordance with the provisions of this Law.
- If any member practices his activities through one branch or more in addition to his main office, each branch shall be registered with the Chamber, and membership fees shall be due for each of the branches.
Article 8 (Business License and Membership Certificate)
The competent licensing authority shall not deliver the original license to the concerned establishment unless a certificate or a document is presented thereto as a proof that the concerned establishment has joined the Chamber. The license shall not be renewed unless the establishment’s membership in the Chamber is renewed and the annual membership fees are paid.
The membership certificate or a document providing registration with the Chamber and payment of its fees shall stand among the main documents that should be presented to any government department or body when filling the application for a bid, for contracts with contractors supplies or other parties, for clearing exported, imported or re-exported gods and for any application that is connected with any of the activities mentioned in the above article.
Article 9 Chamber’s Fees
The Chamber collects annual membership fees from its members as well as fees for issuing certificates and for other services provided by the Chamber in conformity with the provisions, categories and amounts stipulated by a decree issued by the Ruler.
A member who has delayed the payment of his annual fees for more that one year may be exempted from paying these fees according to the conditions and provisions stipulated by the Executive Regulations.
Article 10 Suspension of Membership
A member shall have his membership suspended and shall be deprived of the services provided by the Chamber if he commits any of the following infringements:
- Refraining from the renewal of the membership and the payment of membership fees within a period of three months from the date of maturity there of while continuing to carry out his activities, without presenting a reasonable justification to the Chamber.
- Not co-operating with the Chamber in settling commercial complaints submitted to the Chamber against him.
- Presenting certain documents to the Chamber that contain false information, or concealing important documents.
A member subjected to any sanctions as mentioned hereinabove may present a petition of protest to the Executive Bureau with all justification and evidences proving that the sanctions imposed were not justified, or explaining the conditions and situation that caused the concerned member to be liable to sanctions. The Bureau shall then study the petition and make its decision thereupon within a period not exceeding one month from the date of the petition. The Executive Bureau’s decision shall be final.
Article 11 Lapse of Membership
The membership shall lapse in any of the following cases:
- Bankruptcy of the licensee – unless rehabilitated.
- Canceling the license issued by the competent authority.
- Presenting forged papers or documents that do not pertain to the concerned member after a court judgment.
- Refraining from the renewal of the membership and the payment of membership fees within three years from the date of maturity thereof while continuing to carry out the activities, without presenting a reasonable justification accepted by the Chamber.
- Death of the licensee or liquidation of the Company.
Members whose membership lapses as stipulated in paragraphs (3) and (4) above, shall be deprived from carrying out their activities upon advice by the chamber to the licensing authority. The latter shall then take the necessary procedure to cancel the license issued to them.
A member whose membership lapses, may have it reinstated when the circumstances that caused it to laps no longer exist according to the provision of the Executive Regulations.
CHAPTER III The Chamber’s General Organizational Structure
Article 12 (Organs)
The Chamber’s general organizational structure shall be as follows:
- The Board of Directors
- The Executive Bureau of the Board or Directors
- The Chamber’s Committees
- The Chamber’s Administrative Body.
Article 13 Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall consist of a maximum of twenty six members to be appointed by a decree issued by the Ruler and chosen among competent and experienced people in conformity with Article No.15 of this Law. The term of the Board’s membership shall be a renewable three-years term.
Article 14 Powers of the Board of Directors
The Board is the authority assigned to supervise the Chamber’s activities and manage its affairs. It shall undertake the measures and make the decisions that it may deem appropriate for the fulfillment of the Chamber’s objectives within the framework of the jurisdiction and authorities assigned thereto.
The Board’s powers shall include in particular the following:
- Planning the Chamber’s general Policy, adopting the programs and activities within it’s jurisdiction, and orienting the same in accordance with the requirements of the economic development and the country’s needs.
- Proposing draft laws and decrees related to the Chamber and its affairs and functions and any amendments thereto.
- Adopting the Chamber’s annual budget and its final statements of accounts for the last financial year.
- Approving the receipt or grant of endowments and donations, and approving loan contracts.
- Approving the conclusion of agreements and contracts of cooperation with other chambers, associations or bodies in domains of matters of interest to the Chamber.
- Organizing outgoing trade delegations and missions as well as promotional tours aiming to consolidate the Emirate’s foreign trade relations or to promote its economy and to introduce the investment opportunities available in the Emirate.
- Sending employees of the Chamber on education missions abroad for specialized or post graduate studies.
- Issuing the Executive Regulations, other by-laws, decisions, and instructions regulating the Chamber’s administrative, financial and organizational affairs.
- Expressing its opinion regarding the issue referred to the Board by the Ruler or any of the governmental institutions or bodies.
Article 15 Requirements for the Board’s Membership
A person appointed to be a member of the chamber’s Board of Directors shall fulfill the following criteria:
- Be a united Arab Emirates National.
- Practice a commercial, industrial, agricultural or vocational activity or any related service in the Emirate for at least eight consecutive years, or at least five consecutive years if he has an academic degree form university or a high institute.
- Have not ever been convicted of a felony or any crime contradicting with honor and honesty. Have not declared bankruptcy unless rehabilitated.
- Be a member of the Chamber during the period indicated in paragraph “2” above.
- Be at least thirty-five years old, or twenty-eight years old if he holds a university or a high institute degree.
In exception to the provisions of paragraphs Nos. (2), (4) and (5) hereinabove, the Ruler may appoint one third of the Board’s members without being bound by the above criteria.
Article 16 Forfeiture of the Board’s Membership
- A member of the Board shall forfeit his membership in any of the following cases:
- If the presents a written request to waive his membership and his request is accepted by the Board.
- If he loses one or more of the criteria indicated in Article XV hereinabove
- If he fails to attend three consecutive meeting or five scattered meetings of the Board during his term without presenting a written excuse acceptable to the Board.
- Death
- In all cases, the Board shall present to the Ruler its recommendation on the cancellation of the membership of the person subject to any of the provisions stated in this article. The Ruler shall then appoint a substitute.
- b. The Board’s term shall be considered as expired if the number of the Board’s members is reduced to less than half. In his case, the Ruler shall appoint a new Board in conformity with the provision of this Law.
Article 17 (Chairman and Executive Bureau)
- The Chairman of the Board, the two Vice-Chairmans and the members of the Executive Bureau shall be elected during the first duly convened meeting of the Board to be held within two weeks from the date of the appointment decree issued by the Ruler. The meeting shall be presided over by the eldest member until the election procedures are completed.
- The election shall be carried out by secret ballot. Any member may be a candidate to the post of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, or member of the Bureau. Whoever obtains the highest number of votes shall be elected as Chairman, Vice-Chairman or Member of the Executive Bureau.
- A Board’s member may be entitled to a fixed remuneration to be determined by the Ruler of the Emirate in compensation for his commitments in attending the Board’s meetings, contributing to the activities and events organized by the Chamber, and carrying out the tasks assigned to him by the Board.
- If after the expiration of any Board’s term no new Board is appointed, or if the new Board did not meet to elect the Chairman, Vice-Chairmans, and members of the Executive Bureau, the old Board and Executive Bureau shall continue to fulfill their functions until the new Board is appointed or the elections take place.
Article 18 The Board’s Meeting
- The Board shall meet regularly at least once every three months upon the invitation is sent to the members ten days prior to the date of the meeting. The meeting’s agenda shall be enclosed with the invitation.
- In urgent cases as determined by the Chairman of the Board, the Board may be convoked only three days prior to the date assigned for the meeting.
- The Board may be convoked upon the request of the Board’s Executive Bureau. The Board may – in exceptional cases – be convoked upon a written request signed by at least six members.
- The Board’s meetings shall be valid if attended by more than two thirds of the members, including the Chairmans. If the quorum is not established, within a maximum period of one week from the first assigned date. The second meeting shall be valid if attended by at least half of the members.
- The Board’s decision shall be made by the majority of the votes present at the meeting. The Chairman shall have a casting vote in the case of equal votes.
- The Executive Regulations shall determine the provisions related to the holding of the Board’s meetings, their proceedings and the rules for election and voting.
Article 19 The Board’s Executive Bureau
The Board shall have an Executive Bureau that shall supervise the Chamber’s financial and administrative affairs in conformity with the Executive Regulations and the decisions made by the Board. The Bureau shall consist of :
- Chairman
- First Vice-Chairman
- Second Vice-Chairman
- Treasurer
- Vice-Treasurer
- Two Members of the Board
Article 20 The Chairman’s Tasks
- The Chairman of the Board shall have the following tasks:
- Presiding over the Board’s and the Executive Bureau’s meetings, managing and convening them.
- Representing the Chamber before the judicial authorities, bodies, institutions and other parties. He may depute and other person for such tasks.
- Attending meetings and conferences and other events and activities organized by the Chamber.
- Signing agreements and contracts concluded by the Chamber
- Ratifying the minutes of meetings, regulations, decisions and instructions; and signing letters issued by the Board and Executive Bureau.
- Ordering payments from the Chamber’s funds or effecting commitments in respect of Chamber’s expenditures, signing payment orders, documents and instruments, contracts, and all financial transactions within the limits and powers determined by the Chamber’s by-laws.
- Presenting the annual report to the Board on the affairs and activities carried out by the Chamber including his suggestions for development.
- Any other tasks assigned by the provisions of this Law or the Chamber’s By-law, or assigned by the Board in conformity with its powers.
- When absent, the Chairman shall be replaced by the Vice Chairmen consecutively, who shall be vested with the powers granted to the Chairman. The Chairman may depute any of the Board’s members, the Director General, the Deputy Directors or a Director of any of the departments to fulfill certain tasks or any urgent matter under his jurisdiction.
Article 21 The Chamber’s Committees
- Permanent committees in the Chamber shall be found formed by Board decision to tackle commercial, economic, industrial, public relations and legal matters and other issues related to the Chamber’s objectives and functions which need continuous follow up by holding regular consecutive meetings.
- The Chamber may form Sub-Committees affiliated to the permanent committees in order to look after any special matters related to any of the commercial the practices of the Chamber’s members of their activities in those sectors.
- The Chamber may also form ad hoc or Technical Committees assigned to fulfill a certain task having an incidental nature or a specific period during which it has to be accomplished. They may be assigned to assist any of the Chamber’s departments in the accomplishment in the accomplishment of a certain assignment.
- Committees shall be formed from the Board’s members or Chamber’s staff or members. Committees may approach experts and specialists and others from governmental or private institutions and bodies as the Chamber may deem appropriate either for the proper composition of such committees or to have their relevant opinions.
- The Executive Regulations shall determine the types of committees, the rules of their formation, their functions and how to convene and organize their meetings.
CHAPTER IV The Chamber’s Administrative & Financial Affairs
Article 22 The Board’s Executive Bureau
The Chamber shall have an administrative body assigned to fulfill the executive tasks pertaining to the Chamber’s functions and activities in accordance with the provisions of this Law and the Chamber’s by-law.
The rules governing the appointment of employees, their powers, responsibilities, assessment, punishment and dismissal as well as the pension & retirement system, and other provisions related to the adoption of the organizational structure of the Chamber’s administrative body, shall be subject to the provisions of the regulations of the personal affairs issued by the Board.
Article 23 The Director General
The Chamber shall have a Director General to be appointed by a decision of the Board upon the nomination made by the Executive Bureau.
He shall be assigned to preside over the Chamber’s administrative body and manage the Chamber’s financial, technical and administrative affairs. His power and tasks shall be determined by the Executive Regulations.
The Directors General shall have a Deputy Directors General, who shall be appointed in the same manner and shall help the Directors General to accomplish the tasks assigned to him, and shall replace the Directors General whenever the latter is absent.
Article 24 The Chamber’s Budget
- The Chamber shall have an independent budget adopted by the Board and funded by the following recourses:
- The annual membership fees, the fees of issuing certificates and attesting commercial documents and others.
- Yields of the Chamber’s invested funds and its real estates.
- Revenues from facilities available at the Chamber’s premises and the various services provided to members and non-members and the yield of the sale of publications. The prices for such facilities and services shall be fixed by Board’s decision.
- Subsidies, donations and endowments that the Board decides to accept.
- The Director General shall prepared a draft annual budget for the Chamber to be referred to the Executive Bureau two months prior to the beginning of the new financial year. The Board shall adopt the annual budget before the beginning of the following year.
- Appropriations shall not be relocated from once to another section of the budget unless by a decision made by the Board. However, relocation can be done from one item to another in the same section of the budget by a decision of the Executive Bureau.
- The Board may-during the financial year add new items to the Chambers published budget, and may also increase the number of employees, provided that such expenses shall be supported by appropriations not used by the budget’s other items or by the surplus revenues.
- The Director General shall prepare the draft final statements of account within two months as from the end of the financial year. He shall refer the statements and the attached auditor’s report to the Bureau for approval.
Article 25 (Chamber’s Funds)
The Chamber shall independently manage and dispose of its own funds. However, the Chamber’s funds shall not be spent except in the scope of the objectives for which the Chamber was established. Expenses shall be settled and orders for payment shall be given, provided that the amounts due for such expenses had been determined and legally due and the appropriations for such expenses are available in the budget.
The management of the Chamber’s funds, its accounting system, methods of revenues and the means for preserving, spending and managing its funds thereof, the rules of investment, and the organization of internal financial control shall all be subject to the provisions of the Executive Regulations and the financial and accounting regulations set forth by the Board.
Article 26 (Debts and Obligations)
The Chamber’s funds shall be considered as public funds. Any party having a debt or obligation on the Chamber shall not recover that by seizure, attachment, sale by auction, acquisition of the Chamber’s funds, or by any legal action whether a final judgment regarding such debt or obligation, was pronounced or not.
Article 27 The Auditor
The Board shall – at the beginning of each financial year – appoint an auditor registered on the accountants and auditors roster, who shall revise the annual financial statements of the relevant year. The auditor shall present a report on the audit with his remarks to the Chairman of the Board.
The auditors shall have the right to have access – at any time – to all the chamber’s books, records and documents, and to request the data that he may deem necessary for his work. He shall be entitled to check the Chamber’s assets and liabilities.
If the auditor is prevented from performing his duties or is not given the chance to duly perform such duties, he shall state the same in a report to be referred to the Chairman of the Board.
CHAPTER V Concluding provisions
Article 28 (Previous Law)
This law shall replace the Law No. (2) of the year 1975 on the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the amendments thereto, and shall cancel the Chamber’s By-laws issued on 13/7/1972.
Article 29 (Publication and Implementation)
This law shall be published in the official Gazette and shall be enforced as from the data on which it shall be published. All the concerned authorities shall implement this law, each in accordance with its jurisdiction.
Issued in Dubai on 25 May, 1997
Corresponding to 19 Moharram, 1418 Hijri
Maktoum bin Rashid Al-Maktoum
Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai
| Deutsch |
Nationaler Workshop bi-provinzieller Handelskammern
Text available in German or Chinese.
| Deutsch |
China’s Private Economy Grows Up
Share of Gross Domestic Product to Exceed 50 Percent
Reluctantly legalized no earlier than in the mid-eighties, private economy has now grown to become the main power driving China’s economic development. The head organization of Chinese chambers of commerce and industry expects private businesses will contribute more than half to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the first time this year. According to a “2006 Blue Book on Private Economy Development” published by All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) on September 22, their share already reached 49.7 percent in the end of 2005. Continue Reading »
| Deutsch |
Chinesische Unternehmen investieren am liebsten in London
Text available in German or Chinese.
KMU-Entwicklungsstrategien in Huainan
Die Industrie- und Handelskammer der Stadt Huainan hat am 25. und 26.06.2006 ein Symposium über Entwicklungsstrategien kleiner und mittlerer Unternehmen veranstaltet. In einer dreistündigen Präsentation stellte der SEQUA-Langzeitexperte im deutsch-chinesischen KMU-Förderprojekt, Helmut Schönleber, Strategien international erfolgreicher deutscher KMU vor und vertiefte dabei den Aspekt der interkulturellen Vorbereitung auf Geschäftskontakte mit dem Ausland.
Die Anregungen aus Deutschland wurden von den 60 Teilnehmern anschliessend lebhaft diskutiert. Am Symposium nahmen neben Unternehmern auch Mitglieder der Stadtregierung, des regionalen Volkskongresses und der Politischen Konsultativkonferenz teil. Das Regionalfernsehen berichtete ausführlich.
Die Stadt Huainan hat 2 Millionen Einwohner und liegt in der Provinz Anhui. Historisch ein bedeutendes Handelszentrum und Hauptstadt einer Region, der zeitweise auch Shanghai untergeordnet war, ist Huainan heute vor allem als Kohle- und Stromlieferant für die ostchinesischen Wirtschaftszentren bekannt.
Strategieplanung im KMU-Projekt
Bei einem Strategie- und Planungsworkshop haben GTZ und SEQUA die wichtigsten Ziele und Aktivitäten im KMU-Projekt für die nächsten 17 Monate mit den chinesischen Partnerorganisationen diskutiert. In zwei gemischten Arbeitsgruppen wurde gemeinsam überlegt, wie die angestrebten Wirkungen am besten erreicht werden können.
Schwerpunkt des Projektes ist ein verbesserter Dialog zwischen der Regierung und den Organisationen der Privatwirtschaft bei der Definition von Strategien der regionalen und sektoralen Wirtschaftspolitik. Ausserdem sollen Modelle zur Standortförderung für KMU entwickelt werden, die auch in anderen Regionen Chinas anwendbar sind. Auf Basis der Workshop-Ergebnisse erstellt die deutsche Seite nun einen Operationsplan bis Ende 2007.
Ideen gegen Ideenklau klauen
Strategien zum Schutz des geistigen Eigentums in China
Eines der größten Hindernisse im Geschäft mit China ist die berechtigte Befürchtung deutscher Unternehmen, dass ihre Technologie, ihre Marke, ihr Produktdesign, kurz: ihr gesamtes geistiges Eigentum in China von der dortigen Konkurrenz kopiert wird, sobald sie eine lokale Produktion aufgebaut haben, und dass sie auf dem Rechtswege kaum etwas dagegen tun können. Verbesserter Schutz der “Intellectual Property Rights” (IPR) wird daher immer wieder gefordert, wenn ein deutscher Politiker das Land besucht. Als Bundeskanzlerin Merkel im Mai mit Premierminister Wen Jiabao zusammentraf, waren die deutschen Medien voller Lob über ihren energischen Einsatz für besseren IPR-Schutz. Als Wen ihrer Forderung zustimmte, wirkte dies in Deutschland als klarer Punktsieg Merkels im Interesse deutscher Unternehmen.
Dem chinesischen Premier fiel die Zustimmung nicht schwer. Denn nicht nur deutsche und andere ausländische Unternehmen in China leiden unter der heftigen Kopiererei und dem Technologieklau. Im Gesamtvolumen viel dramatischer ist der Know-How-Klau chinesischer Unternehmen untereinander. Auch die chinesische Führung hat inzwischen erkannt, wie groß die volkswirtschaftlichen Verluste des mangelnden Urheber- und Technologie-Rechtsschutzes sind. Den ausländischen Forderungen wird nicht nur wegen der bilateralen Beziehungen ohne Zögern zugestimmt, sondern vor allem zur besseren Entwicklung der eigenen Wirtschaft.
Noch bei den Beitrittsverhandlungen zur WTO hatte die chinesische Führung immer wieder argumentiert, dass sich das Entwicklungsland China hohe Lizenzgebühren für moderne Technologie nicht leisten kann und wegen der Armut großer Teile seiner Bevölkerung zumindest einen Bonus braucht. Sonst solle sich das Ausland über Raubkopien und Plagiate nicht wundern. Inzwischen gilt diese Argumentation aber nur noch internationalen Konzernen gegenüber, während der IPR-Schutz für kleine und mittlere Unternehmen deutlich verbessert wird — und zwar gleichermaßen für chinesische wie ausländische.
Beim IPR-Schutz haben chinesische Unternehmen den meisten ausländischen gegenüber einen entscheidenden Vorteil. Sie sind seit ihrer Gründung an den Ideenklau der Konkurrenz gewöhnt und haben ihre eigenen Strategien dagegen entwickelt. Nur ein geringer – allerdings schnell wachsender – Teil dieser Strategien basiert auf dem Rechtsweg. Die erfolgreichsten chinesischen Privatunternehmen sind dadurch groß geworden, dass sie profitable Innovationen sehr schnell am Markt umsetzen konnten, dann aber auch schnell genug waren, auf eine andere profitable Branche umzuschwenken, sobald die Konkurrenz es geschafft hatte, die ursprüngliche Innovation zu kopieren. Interessanterweise ist in Deutschland meines Wissens noch niemand auf die Idee gekommen, den Stiel einmal herumzudrehen: Warum klauen wir nicht den Chinesen die Ideen, wie man Ideenklau bekämpft?
Die Dachorganisation der chinesischen Industrie- und Handelskammern (ACFIC) führt derzeit unter ihren Mitgliedsunternehmen eine Umfrage darüber durch, wie diese ihre intellektuellen Eigentumsrechte schützen und wie sie bei Ideenklau gegen die Diebe vorgehen. Die Umfrage-Ergebnisse sind zwar in China noch nicht veröffentlicht, aber schon am Multiple-Choice-Fragebogen kann man erkennen, wo die Schwerpunkte liegen.
Frage 20 beispielsweise gibt zum Thema “Wichtigste Methoden zum Schutz von Technologie” fünf Antwortmöglichkeiten vor:
- Antrag auf Veröffentlichung oder Nutzung neuer Patente,
- Geheimhaltung der Technologie,
- Schutzwürdigkeit von Forschungsergebnissen begutachten (und damit besonderen Rechtsschutz zukommen) lassen,
- Streuung der Bearbeitung von Einzelteilen (unter vielen Zulieferern) zum Schutz vor Nachahmung,
- Verträge oder Streuung von Forschung und Entwicklung (unter vielen Wissenschaftlern) mit Kontrolle des wissenschaftlichen Personals.
Schon die folgende Frage 21 vertieft das Thema der Geheimhaltung. “Welche Wege der internen Geheimhaltung wendet Ihr Unternehmen an (oder sollte es Ihrer Meinung nach anwenden)?” Vier Antworten sind vorgegeben:
- Aufbau einer speziellen Organisationsstruktur für Geheimschutz,
- Deutliche Kennzeichnung geheimer Geschäftsunterlagen (einschließlich digitaler Speichermedien) mit dem Wort “Geheim”,
- Beschränkung geheimen Wissens auf den kleinstmöglichen Personenkreis, dabei ausschließen, dass andere Personen an dieses Wissen gelangen,
- die Geheimhaltungspflicht verantwortlicher Personen durch Entwicklungs-, Dienstleistungs-, Arbeits- oder spezielle Geheimhaltungs-Verträge sicherstellen.
Frage 22 geht dann auf die “Wichtigsten Methoden zum Schutz von Geschäftsgeheimnissen” ein, bietet aber nur drei Antwortmöglichkeiten:
- durch juristische Methoden Geschäftsgeheimnisse schützen (mit Bezug auf das Gesetz über Technologieverträge oder das Arbeitsrecht),
- durch wirtschaftliche Methoden Geschäftsgeheimnisse schützen (Mitarbeitern, die bei der Entwicklung und Verwaltung von Geschäftsgeheimnissen mitwirken, wird ein höheres Gehalt oder eine Prämie ausgezahlt; diese Mitarbeiter werden als Mitgesellschafter am Unternehmen beteiligt),
- durch administrative Methoden Geschäftsgeheimnisse schützen (Aufbau einer Abteilung für Geheimschutz, Unternehmensfremde werden durch Verträge zum Geheimschutz verpflichtet).
Dem insgesamt achtseitigen Fragebogen können noch viele innovative Varianten innerchinesischen IPR-Schutzes entnommen werden. Für deutsche Unternehmen mit Interesse an China dürfte die Auswertung der Umfrage noch interessanter werden. Aus ihr kann man wahrscheinlich erkennen, welche Varianten die erfolgversprechendsten sind.
Um vorab die Ansichten ausländischer Unternehmen zu untersuchen, führen wir auf unserer englischsprachigen Partner-Website www.2ena.org eine Online-Blitzumfrage zu diesem Thema durch.
Helmut Schönleber, Anhui (China), Juni 2006
Kreativität braucht Freiraum
Die sehr hohen Wachstumsraten der chinesischen Privatwirtschaft haben diesen noch relativ jungen Sektor zu einem wesentlichen Stabilitätsfaktor und zum Motor der Wirtschaftsentwicklung des Landes gemacht. Staat und Partei setzen darauf, dass die Privatunternehmen freigesetzte Mitarbeiter aus restrukturierten Staatsunternehmen und reduzierten Behörden absorbieren. Die Goldgräberzeiten nähern sich jedoch dem Ende, der Wettbewerb ist wesentlich schärfer geworden. Nach dem WTO-Beitritt sind weitere, noch leistungsfähigere Konkurrenten auf den Inlandsmarkt getreten.
In der Gründerzeit Mitte der achtziger bis Ende der neunziger Jahre bestand die größte Herausforderung für Privatunternehmen darin, sich gegen behördliche Diskriminierung zu behaupten. Ein typischer Unternehmer war dann erfolgreich, wenn er durch gut gepflegte persönliche Beziehungen die eigentlich widerwilligen Beamten dazu veranlassen konnte, ihren hohen Ermessensspielraum in seinem Sinne auszuschöpfen: er erhielt regelmäßig Aufträge von den staatlichen Großkunden; er konnte ohne formale Außenhandelsgenehmigung im- und exportieren; er zahlte keine oder nur geringe Steuern; er konnte bei staatlichen Banken Kredite aufnehmen, obwohl diese noch gar keine Prozeduren für Kreditwürdigkeitsprüfungen entwickelt hatten; er erhielt Ausnahmegenehmigungen für eigentlich der Privatwirtschaft verschlossene Wirtschaftsaktivitäten. Wie er aber seinen Betrieb führte, war nicht so wichtig.
Heute ist die Privatwirtschaft nahezu gleichberechtigt, zumindest auf höchster politischer Ebene. Die mittleren Beamten haben weniger Ermessensspielraum, die Regeln sind klarer und objektiver geworden. Gegen Vorteilsannahme wird härter vorgegangen. Gute Beziehungen allein reichen heute nicht mehr aus. Ein Privatunternehmer ist heute erfolgreich, wenn er gutes Personal und eine moderne Produktionstechnik hat, mit Produkten und Service die Wünsche der Kunden erfüllt, und wenn sein Betrieb effizient wirtschaftet. Denn heute müssen sich die Privatunternehmen primär nicht mehr gegen die staatliche Bürokratie, sondern gegen einander behaupten.
Mit der Umorientierung haben weitsichtige Privatunternehmen schon vor Jahren begonnen. Einigen hat die Kooperation mit ausländischen Partnern dabei geholfen. Nun entwickelt sich daraus ein Trend, der langsam den breiten Mittelstand erfasst: der Fokus wandelt sich von außen nach innen, von den Rahmenbedingungen auf den eigenen Betrieb, von offensichtlichen Problemen auf verhüllte. Noch immer fehlen Kapital, moderne Technologie, Managementwissen, Auslandskontakt, Fachpersonal. Aber immer mehr Unternehmer erkennen die geringe Arbeitssorgfalt bei sich selbst und den Mitarbeitern als Problem, immer mehr bemerken die eigene Kreativitätsschwäche.
Ein Mangel an Kreativität im Unternehmen kann viele Ursachen haben. Die meisten davon plagen Unternehmen weltweit, aber es gibt auch einige “chinesische Besonderheiten”. Kreative Menschen brauchen Freiraum. Sie brauchen eine Umwelt, die sie nicht ablehnt, sondern fördert, wenn sie etwas anders machen als alle anderen vorher. Die konfuzianische Tradition mit ihrem strengen Hierarchiesystem steht dem entgegen: was der Vorgesetzte oder der ältere Bruder sagt, ist kritiklos und möglichst ohne eigene Gedanken zu akzeptieren. Auch wurden in der jüngeren politischen Geschichte kurze Phasen der Toleranz gegenüber Kreativität und Vielfalt immer wieder von Phasen der Ausrichtung auf gesellschaftlich konformes Verhalten abgelöst. Zwei Generationen haben intensiv erlebt, dass Kreativität keine nützliche Charaktereigenschaft ist. Die Talente der vielen potentiell kreativen Menschen in China wurden nicht gerade ermutigt.
Die relative Kreativitätsschwäche chinesischer Unternehmen ist der Hauptgrund für die geringe Durchsetzbarkeit von Urheberschutzrechten, für plötzliches Überangebot auf einzelnen Märkten (nachdem ein Unternehmen ein erfolgreiches Produkt herausgebracht hat, das dann sehr schnell von vielen anderen Unternehmen kopiert wird), und für das große Misstrauen, das Unternehmer der selben Branche und Region einander entgegenbringen.
Auch den meisten chinesischen Privatunternehmern fällt es schwer, kreative Menschen zu akzeptieren. Sie sind stolz darauf, im eigenen Betrieb das letzte Wort zu haben, und dulden nur zögernd andere Meinungen. Gute Ideen nehmen sie zwar gerne auf, aber nur wenige waren bisher bereit, im eigenen Unternehmen ein Klima zu fördern, das gute Ideen hervorbringt. Viel lieber schauen sie auf neue Ideen aus dem Ausland. Sie sind aber echte, gewinnorientierte Unternehmer, die daran gewöhnt sind, Probleme anzupacken und zu lösen, wenn sie nur erst einmal erkannt sind.
Mit dem Trend zur Konzentration auf die Lösung innerbetrieblicher Schwächen wird auch der Kreativität langsam mehr Freiraum gegeben. Wege zur Förderung der Kreativität müssen aber noch gefunden, entwickelt und umgesetzt werden. Auch dabei schauen die mittelständischen Unternehmer und die sie vertretenden Wirtschaftsverbände und Industrie- und Handelskammern zunächst auf Ideen und Methoden aus dem westlichen Ausland.
Artikel von Helmut Schönleber in “China Contact” 12/2001
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China Business Angels
In Western countries, “Business Angels” are networks of very experienced entrepreneurs and business managers who, after handing over their own business to the next generation, still feel active and are thus willing to support enterprise startups and young entrepreneurs. They contribute their management experience, their customer and political connections, and often even their own money.
In most cases, a business angel is not only philanthropic. He also enjoys the thrill of a new challenge, he likes to make good use of his well-developed skills, and by investing in a new and promising enterprise, he also aims at making some profit. Therefore, business angels networks not only help to increase the success quota of business startups, they also help senior personages to keep participating actively in social life and to receive commendation from society for it. Continue Reading »
Presseresonanz zur Projektplanung
Die in China landesweit publizierte Tageszeitung “Business Director” (工商导报) hat am 02.05.2006 auf der Titelseite einen Artikel zur deutschen Projektplanungsmission in Anhui gebracht. Betont wird darin der Beitrag, den die deutschen Projektpartner bereits zur Entwicklung der Klein- und Mittelunternehmen (KMU) geleistet haben — vor allem durch die Verbesserung der Fähigkeiten der Handelskammern, ihren Mitgliedern wichtige Dienstleistungen zu erbringen.
In dem Artikel werden ausserdem 21 konkrete Projektvorschläge der Handelskammer von Anhui erläutert, die einerseits aus direkten Dienstleistungen für KMU, andererseits aus Trainingsmassnahmen zur Verbesserung des Management-Niveaus von Kammerführungskräften bestehen.
Interkulturelle Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Während in China die nationalen Fernseh-Nachrichten vom Besuch der Bundeskanzlerin Merkel und ihrer Delegation dominiert waren, hat der Regionalsender Hefei TV über eine Aktivität im deutsch-chinesischen KMU-Förderprogramm berichtet. Am Rande des Symposiums über Entwicklungsstrategien privater Klein- und Mittelunternehmen führte das Nachrichten-Team des Senders ein Interview mit dem deutschen Langzeit-Experten des Projektes, Helmut Schönleber.
Schönleber hatte beim Symposium einen zweistündigen Vortrag in chinesischer Sprache gehalten, in dem er die auf Auslandsmärkte ausgerichteten Entwicklungsstrategien deutscher Unternehmen erläuterte. Ein wichtiges Element dabei sei die Einstellung auf die Geschäftsgewohnheiten im anderen Land. Den chinesischen mittelständischen Unternehmern gab er Hinweise, wie sie sich umgekehrt ebenfalls interkulturell auf ausländische Kunden und Geschäftspartner einstellen können.
Die Folienpräsentation zum Vortrag kann im Adobe PDF-Format unter der E-Mail-Adresse hs@2ena.org angefordert werden.
© Foto: Han Xiaohong
BMZ: China-Kritik verfehlt
„Bei unserer wirtschaftlichen Zusammenarbeit mit China handelt es sich keinesfalls um traditionelle Entwicklungshilfe. Das scheinen manche Politiker übersehen zu haben, denn sie wissen nicht, wovon sie reden“, so Erich Stather, Staatssekretär im Bundesentwicklungsministerium. Deren Forderung nach Einstellung der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit mit China wies Stather entschieden zurück: „Die Zusammenarbeit mit China ist im ureigensten Interesse Deutschlands. Schon das Beispiel Klimaschutz zeigt wie notwendig es ist, sich in dem asiatischen Land zu engagieren. China ist weltweit der zweitgrößte Emittent von Kohlendioxid und größter Emittent von Schwefeldioxid und hat damit maßgeblich Einfluss auf die globale Klimaentwicklung. Daher fördern wir vor allem Erneuerbare Energien in China, um mitzuhelfen, die Klimakatastrophe zu verhindern. Von der wäre auch Deutschland betroffen. Es ist nicht zu verstehen, dass einige Unions-Politiker diese Zusammenhänge nicht begreifen wollen“, so Stather.
Unverständnis zeigte der Staatssekretär über die Äußerungen des CDU-Abgeordneten Eckart von Klaeden. Der hatte gefordert, die Entwicklungshilfe solle sich auf das konzentrieren, was für die gesellschaftliche Entwicklung Chinas wichtig sei.
Stather erklärte: „Diese Äußerung von Herrn von Klaeden zeigt, wie wenig er von unserer Zusammenarbeit mit China weiß. Vor allem die Unterstützung des Rechtssystems, der Rechtsstaatsdialog und die Förderung der Menschenrechte sind Schwerpunkte unserer Kooperation mit China.“ Es sei schade, dass so manche CDU-Politiker konkrete Erfolge leichtfertig durch populistische Parolen in Frage stellen. Der Besuch der Bundeskanzlerin in China werde die Bedeutung der Kooperation mit China erneut deutlich machen.
Quelle: Pressemeldung des BMZ
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CSR and Private Enterprise Development Strategies
Anhui Private Sector Symposium
What are successful development strategies for private small and medium-sized enterprises in China? What should they learn from similar enterprises of developed countries? How important is a good strategy on corporate social responsibility (CSR) for private enterprise development? These and many more questions were discussed during a symposium from May 21 to 23, 2006 in Hefei. Over 100 well-known entrepreneurs from all over the province participated in the event, which was jointly organized by Anhui General Chamber of Commerce, the Anhui Association on Private Economy Research, the Government of Baohe District, and the Sino-German SME Promotion Project.
© Foto: Han Xiaohong
China’s Private Sector in the 11th Five-Year-Plan
Soon after the National People’s Congress had passed the amended 11th Five-Year-Plan on March 14, 2006, the 14-sections outline of the plan was published on the internet by the Central People’s Government. The Chinese document was also made available by Xinhua News Agency — broken into 24 parts due to its size. An official English translation of the plan has yet to be found on the web.
To date, eight provincial governments have also published their 11th Five-Year-Plans on the Chinese internet. The five-year-plans are still the main development strategy papers of the party and the government for each region. These plans may thus be used to analyze the different focus and special emphasis put on certain industries, on private enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises, and business membership organizations.
A simple word frequency analysis of the different published provincial plans indicates the wide variety in the importance governments put on market forces, the private economy, chambers of commerce and business associations. Our table shows the total number of Chinese characters in the regional plans (tables, charts, boxes, indices etc. have been removed to increase comparability), and the word frequencies for “small and medium-sized enterprises” (中小企业), “non state-owned” (非公有制), and “chamber of commerce” (商会 or 工商联).
|
Province or city |
11. FYP Length (Char.) |
Small and medium enterprise |
non-state- owned |
chamber of commerce |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anhui | 32,702 | 9 | 11 | 1 |
| Chongqing | 41,306 | 6 | 9 | 2 |
| Guizhou | 32,893 | 4 | 14 | 1 |
| Hebei | 38,872 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| Inner Mongolia | 33,349 | 13 | 42 | 2 |
| Liaoning | 19,255 | 6 | 10 | 0 |
| Shandong | 40,922 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
| Sichuan | 38,433 | 3 | 11 | 2 |
Hessen sucht chinesische Investoren
Beim China-Besuch mit einer Unternehmer- und Politiker-Delegation hat der hessische Ministerpräsident Roland Koch am 12.05.2006 in Shanghai das große Interesse seines Bundeslandes an chinesischen Investoren betont. Um potentiellen Investoren schon in deren Heimatland Informationen und weitere Dienstleistungen zu bieten, hat die Frankfurt Rhein-Main GmbH in Anwesenheit Kochs in Shanghai eine eigene Kontaktstelle eingerichtet (E-Mail: bertram.roth@frm-united.com).
Entwicklungsstrategien für KMU
Einen Unternehmer-Workshop zum Thema “Entwicklungsstrategien kleiner und mittlerer Unternehmen” will die Handelskammer der Provinz Anhui von 21. bis 23.05.2006 in Zusammenarbeit mit SEQUA im deutsch-chinesischen KMU-Förderprogramm durchführen. Als Teilnehmer werden leitende Mitarbeiter der Provinz-, Präfektur- und Kreiskammern sowie etwa 50 Privatunternehmer erwartet. Das Programm besteht aus Präsentationen chinesischer und deutscher Experten sowie Diskussionen in Arbeitsgruppen und im Plenum.
