The Victorian Chamber in partnership with the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) secured the co-organising committee rights to the event, one of the world’s biggest business forums that hosts 1,500 delegates from more than 120 nations over three days.

Held every two years, Victoria edged out China for the rights to host the 2025 WCC after both contenders presented their bids to the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris last month. Victorian Chamber Chief Executive Paul Guerra and the Chief Executive Officer of the Melbourne Convention Bureau Julia Swanson formally lodged Melbourne’s bid.

Supported by the Victorian Government and Tourism Australia, hosting the 2025 WCC in Melbourne will provide trade delegations and local business leaders to discuss solutions for global issues impacting business, create new business opportunities and exchange and develop community best practice.

Melbourne’s unique 2025 WCC program will have an environmental, social and governance theme (ESG) that will empower, inspire and educate international and domestic chambers to lead business into the future.

The WCC will inject an estimated $3.9 million into the Victorian economy including 2,250 hotel room nights. It will assist Victoria to attract international business and talent, foster international connections, support Victorian businesses to expand internationally and elevate Victoria’s status in the international economic marketplace.

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Paul Guerra said: “This is the Olympic Games of business and winning the rights to stage it in Melbourne is a major coup for Victoria.

“It will bring the eyes of the business world to Victoria and open up significant investment opportunities for the State. We will deliver a world class event and showcase the best of Melbourne and Victoria to the world.

“A big thank you to our partners who helped us secure the winning bid: Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister for Sports, Tourism and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos, Melbourne Convention Bureau CEO Julia Swanson; and Tourism Australia – for their support throughout the bidding process.

“We held off strong competition from China to win the bid and we can’t wait for this exciting opportunity in 2025.”

The Victorian Chamber recently hosted the successful 36th Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) Conference in Melbourne in November 2022, which has provided a strong foundation for the 2025 WCC.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said: “The World Chambers Congress will unite business chambers from across the globe while putting Melbourne on the map for business events in 2025, filling our hotels and supporting local jobs.

“The Congress provides a global platform for Victoria’s business achievements and will unearth opportunities for collaboration and investment to make Victoria’s business sector even stronger.”

Melbourne Convention Bureau Chief Executive Officer Julia Swanson said: “As a city of great minds, world leading innovation in a range of sectors and our world class infrastructure has led Melbourne to become an appealing city to host international business events, and without doubt, Australia’s premier business events destination.”

“Renowned for our collaborative network of industries, partners and suppliers working together, our Team Melbourne approach will ensure the 2025 World Chambers Congress in Melbourne is a great success.”

The next congress will be held in Geneva in June 2023. Sydney, the only other Australian city to host the WCC, held the event in 2017.