About us
Klaipeda Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts (KCCIC) consolidates more than 230 members among which there are biggest companies of the region and representatives of small and medium-size businesses. The Chamber also represents interests of entrepreneurs and business development objectives in Klaipeda and Taurage regions.
Promoting export and development of small and medium-size business, the Chamber takes part in various international projects and programmes.
The gods are gone, but symbols still remain
Over the centuries of the human history, a great number of organizations created by people have disappeared, however, one of them, which promotes the development of business, has survived, gained strength, and developed, and now throughout the civilized world its is known as a chamber of commerce and industry.
Today it is worthwhile recalling the meaning of symbols, which businessmen have chose as an emblem symbolizing their global unity. The symbols are much older than the chambers of commerce and industry themselves, and their origin dates back to the times of the gods of ancient Greece. Ancient merchants chose one of them as their guardian. Thus Hermes became the god of trade. In Roman mythology, the equivalent of Hermes was Mercury. In 495 B.C. a temple dedicated to Mercury was built in Rome at the decision of the general meeting of the people, and a merchant’s college that adored Mercury was established. The name of Mercury originates from the Latin word merx (commodity), or mercor (to obtain, to buy).
Winged sandals, a golden caduceus and a helmet: these are the well-known attributes of Hermes (Mercury) that used to help him in his deeds, and that have become the usual symbols of the god of trade. The image of Hermes himself can be found on ancient cutlery and signs of banks and companies involved in trade and shipping. Today, these symbols can be seen the emblem of the Lithuanian Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts (LCCTC). Finally, Mercury, the god of trade, has become the principal symbol.
The image of the caduceus that allegedly possesses miraculous powers got formed, too. It could help to send to sleep or wake up anyone of the gods or mortals, to send them prophetical or deceitful dreams, to resolve disputes and to reconcile enemies, and to mediate between the gods and the mortals. The latter function somewhat symbolizes the activity of modern chambers of commerce, industry and crafts, which find compromise between the state government institutions and businessmen, reconcile disputing parties and set general rules in the international trade. The great philosophical meaning of the miraculous caduceus is the unity and cooperation of all chambers of commerce and industry in the world.
