<P> A chamber of commerce (or board of trade) is a form of business network, for example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses . Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community . Local businesses are members, and they elect a board of directors or executive council to set policy for the chamber . The board or council then hires a President, CEO or Executive Director, plus staffing appropriate to size, to run the organization . </P> <P> The first chamber of commerce was founded in 1599 in Marseille, France . Another official chamber of commerce would follow 65 years later, probably in Bruges, then part of the Spanish Netherlands . </P>

What the purpose of the chamber of commerce