From 30 of September to 3 of October 2011 in Azov was held XXII Assembly of the International Black Sea Club (IBSC)  – non-governmental organization aimed at the development of economic and cultural cooperation between the countries of the Black Sea region. IBSC includes the Black Sea cities of ten countries. Club has a status of observer in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and consultative status in the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (UN ECOSOC). Such statuses are granted only for internationally acclaimed organizations.

XXII Assembly was attended by the representatives of the cities – members of IBSC from Abkhazia, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Russia, Moldavian Republic, Turkey and Ukraine. Kherson was represented by the Kherson CCI President Victoria Ostroumova and Kherson Mayor Vladimir Saldo.                                                                          

On October, 1 within the Assembly was held the 9th Meeting of Non-Commercial Partnership for Enterprise Development "International Black Sea Club". The Business Council was established in 1999 to solve the tasks of high degree integration of the Black Sea Basin countries by developing and strengthening economic cooperation to improve the social well-being of their areas. The CCIs of IBSC cities-members were included to the Business Council (BC IBSC).

Such a tandem consists local government and corporate business organizations. It is capable for more efficient development of business relationships as well as for initiation of timely decision-making by power structures, aimed at creating favorable conditions for it.

At the 9th Meeting the Business Council had been joined by a new member – Novocherkassk Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Russia). Now Business Council consists 6 Russian CCIs, 6 Ukrainian CCIs, Abkhazia CCI and Trans-Dniester CCI.

9 th Assembly adopted the report of the work of Business Council in 2008-2011. During these years the Business Council was cooperating with international organizations, financial institutions and business communities from different regions, realizing its main aim – to establish a favorable business environment in the Black Sea region .

The meeting participants also achieved the preliminary agreement to hold in Taganrog in April-May 2012 the Forum for enterprises – members of CCI of DC IBSC. Alexander Amerhanov was unanimously re-elected as the President of the Business Council for the next three years.

Members of the Business Council and the Assembly visited the exhibition of municipal cooperation and acquainted with the work of the Azov Sea Port.

Azov cargo handling complex includes 11 berths, specialized in handling metal, wood, grains, ores, fertilizers, coal, alumina, cement.

In addition to consideration of organizational issues, during XXII Assembly was elected a new President of IBSC. Serhey Bezdolny was unanimously elected as the Mayor of Azov Sea during the period 2012-2015. He changed the Mayor of Kavala (Greece), Konstantinos Simitsisa. Chief of External Relations Division of Azov Sea Yevhen Mamychev became an Executive Director of the IBSC. Vladimir Saldo, the Mayor of Kherson, remained the Club's financial controller. The next IBSC Assembly will be hold in Sukhum (Republic of Abkhazia) in 2012.