His Excellency Ambassador Eduards Stiprais, Head of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, was the honorary speaker at the January Monthly Meeting. The event was opened by AmCham Vice President, Tõnu Grünberg. In his opening remarks, Mr Grünberg looks forward to what promises to be a very successful year for AmCham, highlighting AmCham members, and the challenges and opportunities currently taking place in Uzbekistan. As the honorary speaker, the Head of the EU Delegation covered various issues of bilateral trade and investment relations between the EU and Uzbekistan. Bilateral trade between the EU and Uzbekistan reached EUR 1,793 million in 2015. Imports from EU Member States were worth EUR 1,546 mln, while exports to these countries totaled EUR 246 million. Ambassador Stiprais also spoke of the EU's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which grants developing countries non-reciprocal access to the European market. The GSP ensures that Uzbek exporters pay lower or no duties on some or all of the products they sell to the EU. Both sides admit that current levels of trade are unsatisfactory, but that efforts such as trade stimulation and...

His Excellency Neithart Höfer-Wissing, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Uzbekistan was the honorary speaker at the November Monthly Meeting. Introductory remarks were made by Hugo Minderhoud, AmCham Treasurer, member of the Board of Directors, and Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Kingdom of Belgium. His Excellency Neithart Höfer-Wissing, gave an extensive review of the business climate and economic situation in Germany, as well as an overview of present ties and options for the future development of bilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and Germany. The question “Why do business with Germany?” was thoroughly covered. Germany is the fourth largest economy, third largest exporter, and third largest importer in the world. Germany is also Europe’s largest market with 21% of EU GDP. The main reasons for Germany’s economic successes are its the large number of small and medium sized enterprises, as well as extensive investment in research and development (ranked 4th worldwide), which annually contributes 80 bln Euros. The secured investment environment is supported...

Mr. Muhammadjan Babadjanov, Head of the Department of Monitoring of Investment Obligations of State Committee of Uzbekistan on Privatization, Demonopolization and Development of Competition was honorary speaker at the September Monthly Meeting of AmCham in Uzbekistan. The Committee is a State Governance Body which is involved in further deepening of the process of privatization of the State-owned Property and expansion of scales of the Private Property as a foundation of the Market Economy, rise of efficiency of the antimonopoly regulation and formation of the real competitive environment, accelerated development of the securities market, especially the secondary market, radical improvement of the corporate governance system. Mr. Muhammadjan Babadjanov in his presentation told about investment climate in Uzbekistan and the government’s program aimed at increase of the private sector’s share in the economy, which stipulates transition into the Private Ownership of over 1247 Enterprises and Facilities. Over the last year alone, 800 assets were already transferred to the private sector, which illustrates the high level of demand from inve...

H.E. Carmela Shamir, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Israel to Uzbekistan was honorary speaker at February Monthly Meeting of AmCham in Uzbekistan. “Ambassador Carmela Shamir has built brilliant career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel. Her previous assignments included United Kingdom, Belgium and Luxemburg etc. Ambassador Shamir speaks four languages including Japanese and French” - started his introduction remarks Donald Nicholson II, AmCham President. Over 40 corporate members of AmCham gathered in the cozy “ Allegro “ restaurant of the Hotel Tashkent International to watch the presentation and socialize. The name of the presentation entitled “ISRAEL: The Culture of Innovation”. It is not surprisingly that presentation is dedicated to innovations. Israel is called a Startup Nation. Within the last few years Israel steadily takes highest ranks among top innovators. And it is not surprisingly because Israel ranks # 1 in the rate of per capita R&D spending globally. “There are more Israeli companies listed on the Nasdaq than India, Japan, and Korea combined. We are champions in number...