About CSIA

The Corporate Secretaries International Association Limited (CSIA) was established in Geneva in 2010 as an association constituted according to article 60 et seq, of the Swiss Civil Code and entered into the commercial register in Switzerland. CSIA was officially launched at the World Bank Headquarters in Paris on 23 March 2010 under the auspices of the IFC and OECD.

During the early days of establishing CSIA, consideration was given to the importance of being located close to major and relevant global organisations such as the OECD, World Trade Organisation, IFC and other major institutions with a remit which included good governance practices, being centrally located between the “East” and the “West” and providing a stable, well accepted and predictable place of incorporation.

As the organisation evolved and grew as an inclusive global organisation, CSIA recognized that the location of the organization should be able to facilitate the operations of a multinational membership in a legal and regulatory framework that is less complex and can alleviate language barriers while still allowing CSIA to comply with all relevant corporate and other laws in its home jurisdiction with its available resources.

Following much deliberation by the CSIA Council, the decision was taken to liquidate the Geneva Company and on 10 February 2017, The Corporate Secretaries International Association Limited was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in Hong Kong.

To be the Global Voice of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals

To create a global profession that develops, grows and promotes best practice in corporate secretarial, corporate governance and compliance services by improving professional standards, the quality of governance practice and organizational performance.

• Promote the professional status of suitably qualified chartered secretaries, Corporate Secretaries, Company Secretaries, board secretaries and other governance professionals.
• Establish and maintain good relations and exchanges between organisations dedicated to the promotion and practice of secretaryship and/or the promotion of good governance.
• Develop and improve their services and professionalism of their members.
• Assist in the creation of such organisations in countries or regions in which they do not currently exist.
• Promote the growth, development, study and practice of secretaryship and assist their members develop and improve their services and professional standards.
• Advocate for good governance through carrying out research, developing standards and raising awareness.
• Promote the recognition and influence in respect of secretaryship and its professional practitioners to national governments and their supplementary/sponsored organisations, international organisations and the global business community