[28 August] Belfast is the running to host the 2015 World Chambers Congress, which could see up to 2,000 business representatives from Chambers of Commerce across the globe visiting the city in two years time.

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce is co-ordinating the bid in partnership with the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau and today they hosted a visit from the judges Peter Mihok, incoming Chairman of the World Chambers Federation and Anthony Parkes, Director of the World Chamber Federation. The two men are on a two day visit to Belfast to meet the organisations involved and scope out key venues and locations including the Odyssey, Titanic Belfast and Stormont.

The city has everything to play for as it takes on Geneva, Liverpool, Manchester and Torino at a bid presentation to the General Council of the World Chamber Federation (WCF) in Istanbul in September.

Northern Ireland Chamber Chief Executive Ann McGregor welcomed the judges to Belfast.

“Hosting the World Chamber Congress in 2015 would be a real boost for Belfast and would put the city firmly on the world business map. Belfast has been shortlisted down to the final 4 cities so we are at a crucial phase of the bidding process. This visit from Peter and Anthony is our chance to show off Belfast and make a real impression on the judges.

“We face tough competition to host the 2015 event, but we are confident that we have put together an innovative bid which will be attractive to the judges. I hope we have made a lasting impression over these couple of days.”

The other 4 cities bidding to host the 2015 World Chamber Congress are Liverpool, Geneva and Torino. If successful Belfast would join a prestigious list of eight host cities: Marseille; Seoul; Quebec City; Durban; Istanbul; Kuala Lumpur; Mexico City; and Doha, scheduled host for the 2013 World Chamber Congress.

Pictured with Junior Ministers Jennifer McCann and Jonathan Bell are Anthony Parkes, Director of the World Chamber Federation and Peter Mihok, incoming Chairman of the World Chambers Federation and President of the Slovak Chamber of Commerce, and Ann McGregor, Chief Executive NI Chamber of Commerce.

Please show your support and help make the Belfast bid stronger by following the link below by Friday 31 August 2012.