*{The Denver Declaration (05-2002)
A business agenda for the 21st century, prepared during the 34th World Congress of the International Chamber of Commerce [http://www.iccwbo.org/home/news_archives/2002/declaration.asp]}

*partie=titre World at a Crossroads *partie=nil

Fifty years of growth in international trade has improved millions of lives. Yet far too many people still have inadequate food, shelter, water, health care…and hope. All of this suffering is inexcusable in a world full of natural resources, knowledge, skills, technologies and people who care. 

The world business community has both the desire and the ability to help increase and spread those resources. And we stand ready to work with governments on solutions that provide a profit to society, as well as to stockholders and employees.

We, the businesspeople of ICC, pledge that we will invest our resources, energies and spirit of cooperation in helping governments and peoples everywhere on their journey toward economic hope and stability. 

We believe the exchange of ideas, capital, products and services is good for people locally, and for friendships globally. 
We remain, as our founders declared themselves more than 80 years ago, "Merchants of Peace."

*partie=titre The Proof of Trade *partie=nil

While foreign aid can help in the short term, curing poverty will require much more. The countries that have made the most economic progress are those that opened their doors to foreign trade and investment by:
establishing regulations that encourage trade;
guaranteeing the rule of law; and
joining other governments in trade agreements.

The most effective trade pacts of all have been the multilateral agreements developed by members of what is now the World Trade Organization. 

WTO (and its predecessors') agreements have generated billions of dollars in commerce between countries in all parts of the world.

These agreements have contributed to increased foreign investment, higher local wages, affordable goods and services, growing local economies, and better standards of living.But many economic needs - and opportunities - remain.

We, the businesspeople of ICC, urge the governments of the world to approach the current WTO negotiations with flexibility, and a commitment to:
reaffirm the WTO's authority in trade matters; 
resolve trade disputes through negotiation rather than litigation;
continue to reduce or eliminate tariffs;
streamline customs procedures;
lower protectionist barriers in agriculture;
further liberalize trade in services, including the movement of professional personnel;
agree on principles of direct foreign investment;
ensure that environmental agreements are consistent with trade rules;
permanently remove import duties from e-commerce;
reaffirm that labor standards be addressed through the International Labor Organization; and
generally support and protect the free flow of goods, services, capital and ideas among nations and peoples.
For all the questions that face the world's people today, one proven answer is increased international trade.

*partie=titre The Promise of Technology *partie=nil

Not long ago, many people were afraid of automobiles, telephones and canned food. Today, most of the citizens of the world either take those items for granted - or wish they could. 

Tomorrow's commonplace technologies are generating their own fair share of suspicion today. Some groups question the safety of genetically modifying food crops, even though such science represents the next great leap in feeding the world's hungry.

Genetic improvement began in the last century, with the now-widely-accepted hybrid crops. Both the old and the new food-crop 
developments are based on sound science. And their alleged shortcomings have, so far, proven far less frightening than the prospect of continued starvation by the world's poor.

We, the businesspeople of ICC, call upon the world's governments to open their minds and their doors to the promise of tremendous technological advances in agriculture, biotechnology and life sciences.

These include important advances in health care and pharmaceutical drugs, which hold the promise of great medical, social and economic benefits to the people of every nation. These advances need a legal and regulatory climate that protects and assures - without overburdening - their progress.

Equally dramatic advances are being developed in information technology - to help people in all countries as they create, process, store and share financial data, manufacturing specifications and other information that's vital to economic activity within and between nations. We call upon the governments of the world to open doors for these technologies that are so       important to their peoples' ability to buy, sell, process, extract and manufacture the goods and services of life.
We also urge strong measures to protect intellectual property - the ideas, methods, words and images of modern-day commerce.

To feed, clothe, house and care for billions of inhabitants, our world needs more than simple tools. We need technology - and the freedom to develop and use it. 

*partie=titre The Power of Partnership *partie=nil

A peaceful, prosperous 21st century requires that both business and government do what they do best. 

The world's governments must provide the public services and the physical and legal infrastructures that enable our societies to function and our economies to grow. 

The world's businesses must provide the capital, ideas, technologies and skills that create products, services, jobs and opportunities.

But both must do a better job of applying their complementary skills to the challenges that neither can handle alone.

One such area is helping the world's least-developed countries develop their governments and businesses for economic growth.

We, the businesspeople of ICC, pledge our continued cooperation to projects like the Investment Advisory Council for Least Developed  Countries. Through IAC, we have already helped businesses and governments from several African countries to inventory their opportunities, analyze their needs and plan for improvements in their economic climates.

And, working with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, we are helping those countries promote their economic opportunities in a series of publications that are being distributed to corporations and development agencies worldwide. 

We also pledge our help in advising governments and aid organizations on directing foreign aid to projects (such as roads and harbors) that will contribute to further economic development.
We further pledge our continued advice to, and cooperation with, governments in such areas as intellectual property protection, the fight against commercial crime, and protection of the environment. 

We pledge our commitment to approach government as a partner in our common efforts to expand the world's economies while also protecting its environment and serving its people. 

*partie=titre Toward Tomorrow *partie=nil

Poverty, war, disease, terrorism and recession plague various parts of our world today - and, directly or indirectly, threaten all of us tomorrow.

We must work together to solve these problems through communication, cooperation and economic growth - all of which are advanced by international trade. 

We, the businesspeople of ICC, pledge our best efforts to advance the cause of economic hope and stability - through trade, technology and partnership - for all people, worldwide.