A Chamber of Commerce and/or Industry (commonly known as a CoCI) is usually a commercial organisation supported both by a state and business interests in that state, in order to develop business co-operation and contacts between that state and other countries. Any company incorporated in a particular jurisdiction is entitled to membership of CoCI bodies in that jurisdiction. If the owner of an Offshore company intends that the company will operate on a long-term basis, in order to optimize the image of the company and create new business contacts, they may consider it worthwhile to establish membership for the company in a CoCI body in the country of incorporation, or another similar organisation.

In most cases, CoCI membership does not impose any obligation on the company other than the payment of annual membership fees. The main advantages of CoCI membership for the company are a general improvement of image (for instance, CoCI memberships may be stated on the official letterhead of the company as 'Member of... Chamber of Commerce'), and the opportunity to receive information from CoCI databases, advertise products or services through CoCI distribution networks, or simply to establish new business contacts through CoCI participation. I.O.S. offers our clients membership in CoCI organisations in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the USA, as well as membership in many other similar commercial bodies. For instance, in Ireland and the United Kingdom, we are able to offer membership in 48 different CoCI bodies, including:

IRELAND

• The Irish Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI)
• The Irish & German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• The American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland

THE UNITED KINGDOM

• The USA Chamber of Commerce (Great Britain)
• The British/Australian Chamber of Commerce
• The British/Japanese Chamber of Commerce
• The London Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI)

Admission fees for these organisations are normally between US$300 and US$800, and annual membership fees are between US$200 and US$450 per year.

THE USA

There are many CoCI bodies in different USA states, but the United States Chamber of Commerce based in Washington, DC, is the principal USA CoCI, and is of most interest to international businesspersons. Members are regularly provided with commercial information from 78 US Trade Representatives in 70 different countries. The annual membership fee is US$350