Since its establishment in 1907, the IMC has played a significant role in consolidating Indian business interests and making the Indian economy self-reliant. It kept pace with and, in its own way, became part of the Indian struggle for freedom.
It was the Chamber's dedication that made Mahatma Gandhi patronise it and accept, in 1931, its honorary membership - a rare honour bestowed upon any chamber of commerce in this country.
OUR HISTORY
Indian Merchants' Chamber took birth on September 7,1907 to wrest economic Swaraj for people under the inspiration of great leaders like Lokmanya Tilak, Justice Ranade, Dadabhoy Naoroji and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi noticed the singular role played by the Chamber and agreed to become its honorary member, thereby bestowing upon it a unique honour.
The patriotic fervour churned up by the chamber roused the business community to work towards liberating Indian industry, trade and commerce from foreign domination. The spirit of Swaraj possessed the chamber, a long succession of its presidents turned fighters for economic freedom.
The chamber lent full support to the hardcore political struggle led by the congress and engaged itself in organising nationalist businessmen. The Indian economy suffered violent disturbances under the impact of two world wars, a series of global depressions, famines that took millions of lives, recurring epidemics of banks insolvency, sporadic eruption of communal riots and political upheavals. Against this backdrop, the British government was quietly tightening its stronghold on vital parts of the Indian economy-industry, trade, commerce, banking and transport through a plethora of legislative measures.
The chamber waged historic battles against every one of these measures and dispelled wrong impressions, if any, that the chamber was constituted to safeguard only traders' interests. Pre-independence, IMC functioned as the nation's watchdog on the economic front, keeping vigil on the colonial masters' exploitative moves.
Post-independence, the IMC continued its association with eminent personalities who shaped India as we know it today - Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Smt. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, to name a few. Such stalwarts often graced the Chamber by their presence and thought-provoking addresses.
VISION
Indian Merchants' Chamber shall strive to be a world class Chamber of Commerce by:
- Representing views of Commerce and Industry to various levels of Government.
- Networking global trade and commerce to benefit members.
- Devising evaluation criteria for assessment of quality systems that meet world-class levels/standards.
- Promoting Trade and Industry Internationally through linkages.
Instituting recognition schemes for individuals & companies to promote excellence.
MISSION
To provide quality serve to members and the society at large enabling them to grow qualitatively & quantitatively, to make India a strong economic nation.
QUALITY POLICY
We are committed to provide quality service to:
- Members engaged in trade, commerce and industry to enable them to achieve growth, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
- The country as a whole, in the areas of economic, monetary and trade policy so as to achieve rapid national economic growth.
We seek to achieve this by:
- Adopting measures for promoting and safeguarding the interests of trade, commerce and industry.
- Creating proactive partnerships between government and business, locally, nationally and globally;
- Rendering efficient service through service oriented employees and experts.
- Providing accurate and timely information.
- Engaging in economic research; imparting education relating to trade, commerce and industry and promoting awareness of social responsibilities of business.
- Recognizing institutions and individuals for outstanding contribution in the areas of quality, science, technology, public service and social-welfare.
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