History

After the War of the Pacific, and the internal struggles that left Peru in crisis economic, political, and social entrepreneurs productive and commercial founded in 1888, the Lima Chamber of Commerce to promote national reconstruction.

Guided by the defense of free enterprise, private initiative, the fiscal balance, transparency in the management of resources, security, legal, investment, savings, democracy and human rights, the CCL has maintained its commitment to the economic and social development of the country.

It has been a pioneer in the judicial arbitration and promoter of important institutions and legal frameworks: the corporation Tax Collection (history of the SUNAT), the Law on Banks, the caisse des dépôts et Consignations (today Bank of the Nation), as well as the Code of Commerce, Customs, and Merchant Marine. It has also encouraged the General corporation Law, the Securities, the Criminal Code, the Tax Code, the National Register of protest draft and a number of laws to strengthen the production, trade, and the tax system.

Since its inception, the Chamber of Commerce of Lima has exerted a decisive influence on the national life, defending the rights of the companies and their partners, guiding them in the performance of its obligations and contributing to the improvement of the regulation of economic and business. His work has been key to strengthening both the management of public as well as private.

At various junctures, the institution has taken on a role in firm defense of the business and democracy, facing attempts to restrict private enterprise, the free market and civil liberties.

With 137 years of trajectory, the Camera reaffirms its commitment to the freedom to produce, sell and compete, as a basis for sustained economic growth. In recognition of this work, in 1993, to celebrate its 105th anniversary, was established officially by RS 132-93-PCM, April 20, the date of its foundation— as the Day of the Trade.

The history of the Lima Chamber of Commerce has always been closely linked to the fate of Peru. Not only has he contributed in a decisive way to strengthen their institutional framework, but that many of its directors and officers have occupied key positions in the public administration and the higher responsibilities of the Nation.

Its founder and first president, don Pedro Correa and James, was mayor of Lima, congresswoman in 1873 and minister of Finance, in 1885. Manuel Candamo Iriarte, president of the CCL between 1896 and 1902, he became president of the Republic in 1903.

The first secretary general of the Chamber, the doctor José Antonio de Lavalle and Brown, served in 1896 as minister of Justice and Worship. In 1939, the legal advisor of the institution, dr. Geraldo Arosemena Garland, would assume the same ministry in 1962. Also, the doctor Romulus Ferrero Rebagliati, founder and director of the First Center for Economic Studies of the CCL in 1949, he had been minister of Finance in 1945.

Since 2010, the Chamber of Commerce of Lima has the Quality Certification ISO 9001:2008, national and international recognition, that stands behind its commitment to providing services business excellence and seek continuously to the satisfaction of its customers.

This certification, obtained for its high standards in the Center of Domestic and International Arbitration, the Certification Center and the Service Center of the Wheels of Domestic and International Business, extends to all the services that it offers to its partners and entrepreneurship in general.

In 2014, the CCL advised the ONPE, making it become the first public institution in the country to obtain the Certification of International Council on Green”.

The Chamber of Commerce of Lima company actively promotes cooperation and international trade. In 2012, he spearheaded the creation of the Peruvian Chapter of the Business Council of the Pacific Alliance, which he chaired until 2013, and served as the chair to the sub-regional level for the years 2023 and 2024. That same year, after the failure of The Hague, promoted by the Chamber of Commerce of Santiago the Declaration of Entrepreneurs of Peru and Chile, delivered to the presidents Ollanta Humala and Sebastián Piñera to strengthen business relations and investment bilateral.

In 2013, it was the headquarters of the seventh World Summit of Women Entrepreneurs IWEC, with leaders of 28 countries, and continues to organize high-level events such as the International Forum of Economy Quo Vadis Peru, which in 2014 was attended by George Friedman, adviser to the president of the united states
The CCL also bet by education and innovation. Has proposed the creation of institutes of technology of dual training, he founded the first Private Center of Innovation, Science and Technology, and created the Center of Enterprise Development to advising family businesses, to support franchisees, and encourage the use of technology in smes through initiatives such as Connected 2020.

Also, it has modernized its management with the ERP system Dynamics AX Microsoft, and enhancing their digital presence to better connect with their stakeholders.

The voice and the thought of the Chamber of Commerce of Lima (CCL), was supported in the work of his think tank, formed by the Institute of Economics and Entrepreneurship Development (IEDEP) and the Research and Development Institute of Foreign Trade (IDEXCAM), both belonging to the Institutional Address of the CCL, which work hand-in-hand with the Center for Legal Studies and Legal; and the Foreign Trade Center (CCEX).

These centers analyze constantly the economy, foreign trade, and the legal environment, political and social of the country, proposals and solutions that underpin the institutional position of the CCL, and guide their approaches in favor of the enterprise and national development.

The Chamber of Commerce of Lima, guild cross that represents the trade, production and services, promotes the active participation of its partners in the improvement of the economic laws and in the conduct of institutional politics. To do this, it has strengthened its 16 guilds sectoral and created 12 committees of work, built for entrepreneurs with technical support, and academic specialist.

With a clear vision of decentralization, the CCL has expanded its presence with offices in North Lima, Lima Eastern, Central Air and Gamarra, bringing its services to entrepreneurs and businessmen. In addition, as a guild, dean, collaborates with PERUCÁMARAS and 51 regional chambers, and the 22 bi-national chambers with which they have agreements in force, by means of a network technology that power the regionalisation of production and the insertion in the global trade.

For her career and contribution to the development of economic, social, and democratic in the country, the Lima Chamber of Commerce has received major national and international awards. Among them, the distinctions of the Congress of the Republic and of the Municipality of Lima for their contribution to the regulation of economic and business, and to the strengthening of the city.

In the private sector, and academic, was elected in 2001 by the PERÚMETRO of the University of Lima as the “Business Guild that best meets your mission” and in 2002 she was awarded the Special Prize for Creativity in Business Customer Service.

At the international level, in 2003, he was recognized by the World Chamber Federation as one of the top four chambers of commerce in the world. In addition, in 2013, received the Certification of “Green Business” of the Council on the Green of the united States, becoming the first chamber of commerce green certified South america.

The distinguished career of the Chamber of Commerce of Lima has been documented by noted historians. Jorge Basadre and Romulus Ferrero recorded in a book the history of its first 75 years, from its foundation in 1888 to 1938 and from 1939 to 1962, respectively.

Later, Franklin Pease narrated the period 1963-1990, while Margarita Giesecke outlined the years 1991-2004. These three volumes were condensed in the work “The Camera: 120 years in the history”, a chronic institutional that it also covers his media presence between 1888 and 2008, edited by the journalist Alberto Aquino Collantes.

In this way, there have been 137 years, and the Chamber of Commerce of Lima, faithful to the principles guiding the legacy of its founders in 1888, remains vigorous, modern and current.