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Institutions like the Chamber of Commerce were not quite unknown
to our country. The craft guilds of the Middle Ages and Mahajans
of the later eighteenth century formed the nucleus from which the
modern trade bodies like Federation of Karnataka Chambers of
Commerce (FKCCI) have been evolved.
 The
foundation to the Mysore Chamber of Commerce (presently the
Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry),
was laid by the late statesman, engineer and economist, Bharata
Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya on May 8, 1916. As the then
Dewan of Mysore State, Visveswaraya inaugurated the state
trade body. Today the FKCCI stands as one of the five foremost
chambers in the country.
At the inaugural meeting on May 8th 1916, in the presence of 500 businessmen
Dr Visveswaraya said, "This association has been started with the
gracious sanction of his Highness the Maharaja,(Krishna Raja Wodeyar)
and nothing will be dearer to His Highness' heart than that, all active
elements in the State should work in unison to make the scheme a practical
success, that the Chamber should bring the wants and grievances of
men engaged in industry and trade to the notice of Government and
of Public Service Corporations like railway companies, municipal and
other local bodies, bank, post and telegraph, or other authorities
whose operations affect them: to maintain a continuous study of large
commercial questions of local interest and constantly strive to strengthen
the conditions under which trade and industries are carried on." Sir
M. Visvesvaraya expressed further that "this chamber may fulfill all
the expectations formed of it, that it may grow in utility and influence
from year to year and that it may long remain the premier representative
and guardian of the industrial and commercial interests of Mysore."
 The
first President of the Chambers was Mr W.C. Rose who
continued till 1920. The Chambers began to work by starting a weekly,
'Price Current and Market Report' from May 24th 1916. For
each year, a member of the chambers is made the president since
1920. The present President of the FKCCI is Mr Tallam Venkatesh.
The then Maharaja of Mysore, late Krishnaraja Wodeyar,
took keen interest and paternal affection towards the Mysore
Chamber of Commerce. In the year 1973-74, the Mysore
Chamber of Commerce was changed to 'Federation of Karnataka
Chambers of Commerce and Industry.' In September 1994, the
FKCCI celebrated its Platinum Jubilee by inviting the then President
of India, late Shankar Dayal Sharma and the first lady, Vimala
Shankar Dayal Sharma.
FKCCI has been a beehive of economic activity of the state
and safeguarding the interests of trade and commerce in the state
by advocating for the welfare of traders before the State and the
Centre. In its past 84 years, each year has seen progress under the
chairmanship of the respective presidents of the trade body. The following
persons are considered as a few of the architects of the FKCCI:
Sir M Visvesvaraya, The Maharaja of Mysore Sri Krishna Raja Wodeyar,
Sir Mirza Ismail, the Yuvaraja of Mysore Sri Kanteerava Narasimharaja
Wodeyar, Sir Nyapathi Madhava Rao, Haji Sir Ismail Sait, W.C.Rose,
Rao Bahadur Sri B.K. Garudachar, Dharmaprakash Rao Bahadur Devarao
Shiraram, Rajasevasakta Pamadi Subbarama Chetty and Rajacharitavisharada
Rao Bhahadur C. Hayavadana Rao.
Courtesy: FKCCI Platinum Jubilee souvenir
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