October 1998

by Helen Midori and Derek Nowek

Wedged between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova is taking slow but steady steps toward attracting Western trade and investment. As a result, a growing number of American companies are establishing business operations in the country. In response to increased demand for representation and promotion of Western business interests in Moldova, the resident U.S. business community in the summer of 1997 created the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Moldova.

The chamber's aim is to promote American trade and investment in the country and to work with Moldovan government and business leaders to foster a more favorable foreign trade and investment climate. The chamber, comprised of both American and Moldovan businesses, has over 50 business members and represents over $30 million of investment in the Moldovan economy.

AmCham Mission
The American Chamber of Commerce in Moldova is now in a process of accreditation with a network of 83 AmChams located throughout the world and headquartered at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC. The Moldova AmCham is governed by a five-person board of directors. Its president and executive director is Jeffrey Kamins.

The primary objectives of the chamber in Moldova are to promote the interests of U.S. investors and to improve the commercial relationship between U.S. and Moldovan businesses. In addition, the chamber works to strengthen bilateral trade and investment between the United States and Moldova, and lobbies key Moldovan policymakers and agencies on behalf of member companies.

While the AmCham is an independent organization not affiliated with the U.S. Government, it does work closely with U.S. Government officials and the Moldovan Embassy in the United States to ensure a unified approach to issues affecting the day-to-day business operations of member companies in Moldova.

AmCham Committees
The chamber has established six industry and issue-specific committees for its members, including:

Trade and Investment Committee - Committee members meet monthly to discuss issues affecting investors in Moldova, such as taxation, customs and duties, foreign investment legislation, and more.

Agriculture Committee - U.S. and local agribusiness companies active in Moldova regularly share information on new opportunities for agribusiness investment, such as food processing and packaging, land privatization, and agribusiness technologies. This committee is a joint effort between the Citizen's Network for Foreign Affairs and AmCham.

Technology and Information Committee - This committee is responsible for introducing new technologies, research reports, and industry standards to Moldova.

Business Development Committee - Created to promote partnership between U.S. and Moldovan businesses, this committee arranges events, seminars, and guest speakers to lecture and advise members on specific strategies for doing business that have proven successful for foreign business in Moldova.

Public Relations Committee -The committee monitors media reports and develops strategies for AmCham in its relations with the media and the Moldovan Government.

Tourism and Accommodation Committee - The committee, comprised of representatives of the tourism industry, including tour agencies, hotels, restaurants, and other recreational businesses, promotes business opportunities in the sector.

In addition to committee activities, members may participate in various chamber-hosted events, exhibitions, and social functions. The AmCham also produces a Business Moldova newsletter that includes member news and a digest of trade, political, economic, and social news in Moldova.

Commercial Services
U.S. companies active in Moldova or considering the Moldovan market can utilize AmCham's fee-for-service programs, which range from assisting in identifying investment, trade, and distribution partners to providing market research reports and business registration services. The AmCham also assists in identifying investment projects, conducting trade exhibitions, arranging accommodations for business delegations, and more.

Helen Midori represents BISNIS in Moldova. Derek Nowek is the BISNIS Moldova Specialist in Washington, DC.

For more information about Moldova, visit BISNIS OnLine, at http://www.mac.doc.gov/bisnis/country/wstnis.htm,or visit the AmCham website at www.mldnet.com/amcham.

This report is provided courtesy of the Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States (BISNIS)