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VIEWPOINT

An accounting of the past two years

The past two years have been some of the most challenging and dynamic of my business life. Taking on the AmCham presidency just as Egypt's economic reform program reached full stride meant acquiring an awareness of many issues and seizing opportunities to communicate the needs and goals

of our business community. In the context of the global market, AmCham's role as liaison between Egypt, the U.S. and the rest of the world has gained increased importance. At the same time, this period of fresh growth required a critical look at AmCham's organization. Now more than ever, the Chamber's activities, particularly in information diffusion, are critical.

With this in mind, our focus has been to consolidate all of AmCham Egypt's operations under one roof to ease management and improve efficiency. Our new facility, located at 33 Soliman Abaza Street in Mohandiseen, was made possible by the financial assistance of USAID and will be inaugurated on May 4. It contains offices for staff and departments that were formerly spread over several locations. We are very excited about this new, state-of-the-art headquarters. It is a sign of our growth, and I am very happy to have contributed to its realization.

In reviewing the achievements of the past two years, I must first call attention to the contributions of every member of AmCham's staff, as well as those of our board of governors, committee officers and committee members. AmCham's success is due to their dedication and skills. Our members are the primary reason for our standing as a prestigious international business association, and this year we have nearly reached the 1,000 mark in membership.

AmCham's work is aimed primarily at providing our members and the business community at large with the informational tools necessary to gain a competitive edge in an increasingly demanding market environment. Our Business Studies & Analysis Center turns out some of the most comprehensive and reliable analyses of current projects and issues available. Recently, they've produced reports on Egypt's megaprojects and an economic overview, all designed to encourage and assist investors interested in doing business in Egypt. This year we've recorded a record increase in sales of these reports - to more than 300 per month. This reflects the growing demand for hard facts and an appreciation for AmCham's ability to assemble them.

Another indication of AmCham's effectiveness as an information provider is Business Monthly magazine, which provides tough, independent coverage of Egyptian business news and keeps our members up to date on the Chamber's activities. This year, thanks to increased distribution and advertising, Business Monthly broke even for the first time. In addition, AmCham has begun to produce its own TV program, The Indicator, aired during prime time on Channel 2. The program consists of interviews with prominent entrepreneurs and officials who discuss economic reform issues and business challenges in simple terms in an effort to educate the public about the advantages and functioning of an open market. Several other programs are on the way, and they will be recorded in our new TV studio at AmCham headquarters.

Also on AmCham's activities roster is the USAID-funded Business Link (BLINK) project. BLINK uses state-of-the-art information technology to connect AmCham and other prominent Egyptian business associations with their counterparts in the U.S. and around the world. These days, the opportunities to conduct electronic commerce over the Internet cannot be ignored. BLINK aims to position Egypt for the future by plugging into the net to find and disseminate authentic business, trade and economic information.

Finally, I'd like to remind our readers of AmCham's annual Gala Dinner in May. Set in the gardens of the Opera House, this year's event promises to be a spectacular one. The fundraiser is dedicated to the cause of financing an orphanage to be built on 3,000 square meters of government-granted land in Moqattam. It will also be my 'swan song,' and I hope to see AmCham staff and members there to thank them personally for their support over these last two years.

But though I am stepping down as president, I look forward to remaining an active member of the Chamber. The presidency was merely the crown on my term of service as an officer in AmCham, a term that began in 1982, when I served as treasurer, and which continued as I served as vice president for program and then executive vice president. It's been a great and productive time, and I'm grateful for the trust that was placed in me to carry things forward. I thank all of the individuals who helped make that possible and wish my successor the very best.

Ahmed Shawki
President, AmCham

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