145 years ago, Colombia and Bogota were in a time of change. In 1878, the country was going through a period of reconstruction after years of conflict and the city was a boiling commercial scenario. In the midst of this panorama, the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce was born, an institution created by four businessmen to support business and settle conflicts, which would become key aspects in the economic and social development of the city, the region and the country.

The CCB has been an agent of transformation. It has mediated between the needs of business, citizens, and national, regional and local governments. It promoted the electrification of the city in 1901, the first aqueduct in 1911, air and river transportation works, and participated in decisions such as the creation of the Banco de la República with the Kremmerer mission in 1923. In 1918 it carried out the first arbitration and at the CCB conciliation was born, two tools that gave way to the creation of the Arbitration and Conciliation Center, today a reference in Latin America.In 1931, the Government delegated the management of the commercial registry to the CCB, a service that has been characterized by its efficient management under a self-sustainable model that does not require resources from the State for its operation.

Thanks to the monitoring of issues such as security and public policy recommendations, the CCB has had an impact on citizens, as was the case with the creation of the CAI. In 1989 it acquired Corferias and thus began the path of the 7 subsidiaries that today contribute to investment, business, sustainability and improvement of the quality of life.At the same time, it began to provide support to entrepreneurs, which today translates into more than 600 free services ranging from courses and workshops to specialized mentoring.

The entity was a pioneer as a private organization in promoting cultural and creative industries, since 2004, it has been promoting business with platforms such as ARTBO, Bogotá Audiovisual Market-BAM, Bogotá Music Market-BOmm and Bogotá Fashion Week; and in 2018 it created the cluster initiatives, 16 sectoral bets that work in favor of competitiveness.

That same year, as part of its strategy to consolidate Bogota as an epicenter of international events the CCB together with Corferias and Fontur delivered Ágora Bogotá, Convention Center. Today, it is working to promote the District of Science, Technology and Innovation of Bogota-Region (DCTIB), to encourage interaction between actors to accelerate innovation.

In its 145 years, the CCB has been an engine of change, being an example of how public-private articulation strengthens businesses and family income.Today, its focus is to serve 98% of the business fabric, which are MSMEs that require great institutional support. His commitment to the development of the city and the country will endure, guiding new generations towards prosperity, inclusion and sustainability. His legacy is a testimony of how an institution can make a difference and be a symbol of transformation and progress for an entire nation.