The Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL), founded on April 20, 1888, promotes free enterprise and the country's economic and social development. It brings together thousands of trade, production, and service companies, organized into 16 sector-based guilds, defending private investment and job creation.

It has an Arbitration Center, established in 1993, which resolves domestic and international disputes swiftly and expertly, with historical roots dating back to the 16th century. It also established the Registry of Protested Bills of Exchange in 1928, today known as the National Registry of Protests and Arrears, a key tool for business financial security.

In a competitive global environment, the CCL has a modern business complex with a convention center and cutting-edge technology. Its innovative spirit earned it the 2021 world award "Digital Chambers: The New Normal." With a global vision, it promotes business growth and strengthens its members' businesses.

After the War of the Pacific and the internal conflicts that left Peru in economic, political, and social crisis, productive and commercial business owners founded the Lima Chamber of Commerce in 1888 to drive national reconstruction.

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

It has been a pioneer in arbitral justice and a promoter of important institutions and legal frameworks: the Tax Collection Corporation (predecessor of SUNAT), the Banking Law, the Deposits and Consignments Fund (today Banco de la Nación), as well as the Commerce, Customs, and Merchant Marine Codes. It has also promoted the General Corporations Law, the Securities Law, the Criminal Code, the Tax Code, the National Registry of Protests, and numerous laws to strengthen production, trade, and the tax system.

Since its founding, the Lima Chamber of Commerce has exercised a decisive influence on national life, defending the rights of businesses and their members, guiding them in fulfilling their obligations, and contributing to improving economic and business regulations. Its work has been key to strengthening both public and private management.

At various critical junctures, the institution has taken a firm stand in defense of business activity and democracy, confronting attempts to restrict private enterprise, the free market, and civil liberties.

With 138 years of history, the Chamber reaffirms its commitment to the freedom to produce, sell, and compete as the foundation for sustained economic growth. In recognition of this work, in 1993, on its 105th anniversary, April 20 —its founding date— was officially established as National Trade Day through Supreme Resolution 132-93-PCM.

The history of the Lima Chamber of Commerce has always been closely linked to Peru's destiny. It has not only contributed decisively to strengthening the country's institutions, but many of its directors and officers have also held key positions in public administration and the nation's highest offices.

Its founder and first president, Don Pedro Correa y Santiago, was mayor of Lima, congressman in 1873, and Minister of Finance in 1885. Don Manuel Candamo Iriarte, CCL president between 1896 and 1902, went on to become President of the Republic in 1903.

The Chamber's first secretary general, Dr. José Antonio de Lavalle y Pardo, served in 1896 as Minister of Justice and Worship. In 1939, the institution's legal advisor, Dr. Geraldo Arosemena Garland, would go on to hold the same position in 1962. Likewise, Dr. Rómulo Ferrero Rebagliati, founder and director of the CCL's first Center for Economic Studies in 1949, had been Minister of Finance in 1945.

Since 2010, the Lima Chamber of Commerce has held ISO 9001:2008 Quality Certification, national and international recognition that supports its commitment to providing excellent business services and continuously pursuing customer satisfaction.

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 ONPE, helping it become the first public institution in the country to obtain the "Council on Green" International Certification.

The Lima Chamber of Commerce actively promotes cooperation and international trade. In 2012, it led the creation of the Peruvian Chapter of the Pacific Alliance Business Council, which it chaired until 2013, and held the sub-regional chairmanship during 2023 and 2024. That same year, following the Hague ruling, it partnered with the Santiago Chamber of Commerce to issue the Declaration of Entrepreneurs of Peru and Chile, presented to Presidents Ollanta Humala and Sebastián Piñera to strengthen business relations and bilateral investment.

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.

It has also modernized its management with Microsoft's Dynamics AX ERP system, enhancing its digital presence to better connect with its stakeholders.

The voice and thinking of the Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL) are backed by the work of its think tank, made up of the Institute of Economics and Business Development (IEDEP) and the Institute for Foreign Trade Research and Development (IDEXCAM), both under the CCL's Institutional Directorate, which work closely with the Center for Legal Studies and the Foreign Trade Center (CCEX).

These centers continuously analyze the economy, foreign trade, and the country's legal, political, and social environment, developing proposals and solutions that support the CCL's institutional position and guide its efforts in favor of business and national development.

The Lima Chamber of Commerce, a cross-sector guild representing trade, production, and services, promotes its members' active participation in improving economic legislation and shaping institutional policy. To this end, it has strengthened its 16 sector-based guilds and created 12 working committees, made up of business owners with specialized technical and academic support.

With a clear decentralizing vision, the CCL has expanded its presence with offices in North Lima, East Lima, the Airport area, and Gamarra, bringing its services closer to entrepreneurs and business owners. As the country's founding guild, it also collaborates with PERUCÁMARAS and its 51 regional chambers, and with the 22 binational chambers with which it holds current agreements, through a technology network that strengthens productive regionalization and integration into global trade.

For its track record and contribution to the country's economic, social, and democratic development, the Lima Chamber of Commerce has received major national and international recognitions. These include distinctions from the Congress of the Republic and the Municipality of Lima for its contribution to economic and business regulation and to strengthening the city.

In the private and academic spheres, it was named by Universidad de Lima's PERÚMETRO in 2001 as the "Business Guild that best fulfills its mission," and in 2002 it received the Special Award for Business Creativity in Customer Service.

Internationally, in 2003 it was recognized by the World Chamber Federation as one of the four best chambers of commerce in the world. It also received the "Green Business" Certification from the U.S. Council on Green in 2013, becoming the first certified green chamber of commerce in South America.

The distinguished career of the Lima Chamber of Commerce 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 chronicled the period from 1963 to 1990, while Margarita Giesecke covered the years 1991 to 2004. These three volumes were condensed into the work "La Cámara: 120 Years in History," an institutional chronicle that also covers its media presence between 1888 and 2008, edited by journalist Alberto Aquino Collantes.

In this way, there have been 138 years, and the Lima Chamber of Commerce, faithful to the principles guiding the legacy of its founders in 1888, remains vigorous, modern and current.