American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium

The American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium or AmCham Belgium is a non-profit, non-governmental, and non-political membership organization that works to improve business and investment opportunities for American companies in Belgium. It consists of 600 US and multinational member companies, and involves approximately 4000 executives.

Mission statement
"AmCham Belgium is dedicated to improving business and investment opportunities for US companies in Belgium and in the European Union. AmCham Belgium facilitates business for American and other member companies through its lobbying, networking and knowledge-sharing activities.”

History
AmCham Belgium was formally constituted as a Belgian non-profit association in January 1948. Its antecedents, however, extend back to 1898 when an Anglo-American Chamber of Commerce was formed in Brussels, which subsequently separated into a British Chamber of Commerce and a Belgian-American Chamber of Commerce in 1909.

Structure
AmCham Belgium is managed and directed by an Executive Committee and a Board of Directors. The Executive Committee and the Board of Directors, chaired by the Chamber's president, meet on a regular basis with the executive director and all committee chairs. They review Chamber activities and the execution of Chamber policies and oversee the day-to-day activities of the Chamber secretariat. AmCham Belgium is a voluntary, independent association of business persons and entities. It receives no subsidy from any governmental body, and it relies on membership dues and user fees to cover its operating expenses

Committees
Approximately 200 business people donate their time and expertise to the Chamber and its activities by membership in one of its five issue-oriented committees and the numerous working groups and subcommittees.
* Communications
* Human Resources
* Legal & Taxation
* Membership
* Executive Committee

Young Professionals
In response to members' input, AmCham Belgium is in the process of creating a Young Professionals group, to actively involve the next generation of the Belgian business community. The events and work of this initiative will include workshops, networking possibilities, discussion and business events.

Publications
* AmCham Business Journal (ABJ) - quarterly
* US Direct Investment Survey - annual scientific database of all US investments in Belgium
* Foreign Investors’ Agenda - annual recommendations to assist Belgium in foreign direct investment
* AmCham Belgium Annual Directory - reference guide to approx. 1600 US companies established in Belgium as well as all Chamber members
* eNews - monthly email summary of current activities and projects

Events
* Business After Hours – networking cocktail event, held 3-4 times each year
* Committee Meetings – restricted to committee members
* Issue-Oriented Conferences
* VIP Gala and Dinner Receptions – evening receptions with high-level US and Belgian dignitaries (e.g. Joint Welcome Gala Dinner with the American Club of Brussels for the new US Ambassador to Belgium Sam Fox [http://www.amcham.be/cgi-bin/events.cgi?Actiondisplay&id399])

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