The Commercial Diplomat

Behind every trade, investment and commerce-related policy analysis, facilitation of mutually beneficial cross-border cooperation and sustainable strategic collaborative partnership, negotiation of policies and agreements or treaties, promotion of goods and services between economies or multinational corporations, the resolution, settlement and management of disputes in international trade, investment, and commerce, and other related-relevant sector-specific services that bring together senior civil, public-private and foreign commercial diplomatic service officials involved in commercial-judicial diplomatic activities, are distinguished individuals that make them happen.

All these services are provided by accredited commercial diplomats, under the adopted related-relevant and applicable rules, models, conventions, frameworks, mechanisms and standards by the WTO, UNCITRAL, ICSID, LCIA, PCA, and WIPO, in addition to the Diplomatic Service Code, Civil Service Code, the Regulators Code 2014, Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006, and others.

Accredited Commercial Diplomat

Accredited commercial diplomats are regulated under the Commercial Diplomatic Code which incorporates all these applicable adopted rules. These specialist practitioners are highly-disciplined, integrity-driven, highly-proficient and highly-influential members of the new uniquely dynamic class of learned accomplished professionals that bring proven significant practical wealth of experience from across a diverse range and spectrum of related-relevant sector-specific services.

The Accredited Commercial Diplomat

The accredited commercial diplomat will have acquired the necessary skills and techniques, and learn the multi-disciplinary approach to responsible commercial diplomatic leadership, and get equipped to deal with the demands of the more challenging, burdensome, complex, and disruptive trade, investment and commerce-related environment of the future.

The effective engagements, communications and connections by the commercial diplomat, through diplomatic institutions, missions and other offices should help in liaising consistently with the principals in related-relevant sector-specific institutions and services, especially international trade and investment, commerce and industry, agriculture and natural resources, maritime services, foreign trade relations, and other diplomatic sectors. In addition to all these, the status as commercial diplomat or commercial diplomat-in-chief should allow for outreach into all economies.

In addition to policy analysis, facilitation, negotiation, promotion and advocacy issues, arbitration and mediation functions also comprise a significant aspect of the commercial diplomat's remit, particularly with regard to the resolution, settlement and management of international trade, investment and commerce-related disputes, the promotion of trade and investment, commerce and industry, agriculture and natural resources (including agricultural products), maritime affairs opportunities are central to the purpose of appointing or having a high-ranking official in the rank of accredited commercial diplomat or commercial diplomat-in-chief as representative of State, multinational corporation, multilateral organization, diplomatic institution or central, commercial, investment and regional banks in all regions.

The Committed Commercial Diplomats

Commercial Diplomats are committed members of a new unique class of professionals in an appropriately regulated unique profession. Being a recognised and qualified, an approved, authorised, accredited, registered and appropriately regulated commercial diplomat requires all the finesse, skills-based knowledge and specialisms-based expertise of international trade-related policy and traditional, commercial and judicial diplomacy.

In addition, it requires an in-depth knowledge of commercial and macroeconomic analysis of policy issues ranging from health and the environment to the prudential supervision of insurance, contemporary international investment policy-making, social responsibility, the prevention of corruption, the politics of trade and foreign investment, national trade laws and global trade rules, international arbitration and public diplomacy.

The Title - Commercial Diplomat

Another, but very significant consideration is that the title 'Commercial Diplomat' is a generic term and there is nothing to stop anyone identifying themselves as 'Commercial Diplomat' which, consequentially, does not distinguish the skilled, competent and accredited practitioner from the unskilled and this could be detrimental.

The need and demand for high-performing sector, highly-knowledgeable experts, highly-trained specialists, highly-qualified practitioners, highly-skilled advocates and appropriately authorised, accredited and better regulated highly-competent diplomatists with the relevant skills will grow.  Commercial Diplomacy has had significantly important impacts on the global economy and ensured development of effective cooperation through international trade policy and negotiation, international investment policy for development, international commerce and international arbitration, and the Commercial Diplomatic sector.

Regulation of Commercial Diplomats and Commercial Diplomatic Practice

Association of Certified Commercial Diplomats is the global voice of the commercial diplomatic profession and only extraterritorial rules-based regulatory authority that provides a wide range of qualifications, accreditations and membership options which are tailored to recognize seasoned and accomplished learned career commercial diplomats and international trade policy practitioners alike.

Independent and Self-Regulatory

The new unique class of career professionals - Commercial Diplomats have emerged from the requirements for policy coordination and negotiation among nations on issues affecting global trade, investment, commerce and international arbitration.

The training of this new unique class of career professionals has been haphazard at best and has relied largely on a defacto apprenticeship system that generates neither enough qualified nor sufficiently well-trained professionals, highly-skilled specialists, highly-competent advocates and highly-influential experts.

This gap between the demand and supply of qualified and certified career commercial diplomats has to be met through dedicated training programmes focused on the skills and knowledge required of competent professionals in the field.