Structure and Tasks

With more than 3 million members, the CICs stand for industry and commerce in Germany. The 80 CICs represent the interests of their members towards local, state and regional authorities and, through the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), towards the German federal government and the European Union.

The CICs are public corporations and are responsible for their own affairs, but they are not public authorities. They are business institutions and the principal representatives of all commercial undertakings in their region. They not only perform public functions but assist their members directly as counsellors or mediators in business matters of local, regional and supra-regional importance. At the international level,the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad is their representative body.

The CICs have a democratic structure. Members choose their representatives for the annual general meeting. This "parliament of the business community" elects from its midst the president, the vice presidents and the managing director.

All companies pay mandatory subscriptions to their CIC according to their capacity. The question is often asked why membership of the CIC is compulsory? A great advantage of statutory membership is that the CICs represent all branches and companies equally regardless of size, whether it be the corner shop or a multinational corporation. All companies have one vote and equal rights. Their subscriptions keep the CICs financially independent of vested interests and government influence.

Another advantage is the exceptional efficiency of this system of corporate self-government. The state has assigned certain tasks to the CICs which it would have to manage itself if the CICs did not exist. As a result, a CIC today issues certificates of origin and carnets, sets vocational training examinations and maintains a register of companies who meet specific environmental standards ("eco sites"). It helps with expertises and arbitration by placing experts under oath, provides advisory opinions for government departments, and offers consulting for company registration. If the government was to fulfill these tasks itself, the companies would not only experience a greater tax burden, they would also be without the co-determination and participation possibilities available now. Also, not even the best and most economical public authority could carry out the mandatory tasks of the CICs and guarantee the same price and the same quality. Then, unlike the state, the CICs can draw upon a vast reservoir of local voluntary business expertise.