Dear Members and Friends of AUCC:
As we are quickly approaching the holiday season, which marks the end of 2013, we would like to take the opportunity to express our thanks to all of you for your outstanding support to the chamber this year.
On September 5, 2013, we celebrated the AUCC 20th anniversary, a remarkable milestone that would not have been possible without the strong confidence of our members in the longevity and prosperity of the US-Uzbekistan trade and investment relations. Throughout the year, our members such as The Boeing Company, Case New Holland, The Coca-Cola Company, FMN International, General Electric, General Motors, Harris Corporation, Honeywell, Indsur Stelcor, Inc., Lockheed Martin, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Nukem, Inc., Rio Tinto, Sikorsky Aircraft, Solar Turbines, Sustainment Solutions, Inc., White & Case LLP and Zeppelin International AG have been involved in discussions with senior members of the US and Uzbek Government on how to better advance our commercial relations and generate more opportunities for the people of the USA and Uzbekistan. For example, The Boeing Company delivered two 767s in May and July 2013 with two 787-8s on order. Today, Uzbekistan's Boeing fleet includes: six 757-200 and nine 767-300. In 2013, Case New Holland started production of 210 HP tractors and introduced 42 HP tractors for orchard and vineyards. The company has excelled in growing its service support network and plans to develop 3rd Party Retail finance next year. Lockheed Martin has been involved in modernization of the Air Traffic Management and they look forward to strengthening their partnership with the people of Uzbekistan. Coca-Cola, a strong advocate for healthy living in Uzbekistan, has contributed to local communities which resulted in 10,000 people gaining or getting improved access to safe drinking water in 2012/2013 and 15,000 children and adults taking part in sports events in the last 5 years through the partnership with the Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan. These are just some examples of our companies' successes with many others involved in similarly successful projects and business undertakings.
As the only trade organization that represents the interests of the US companies in Uzbekistan, we would like to highlight the enormous support that our members continue to receive from the Uzbek Government and, especially, the Uzbek Embassy in Washington, DC. In the past several years, we have witnessed positive transformations of the US-Uzbekistan business partnership and we are thankful to all Uzbek officials, colleagues and partners for their commitment to advance the US-Uzbekistan business relations. AUCC is determined to help the people of Uzbekistan to expand their professional opportunities and horizons for development and welcomes any initiative that can bring the people of our countries closer and help US companies better align their business plans with Uzbekistan's economic vision and industrial priorities.
The positive and constructive nature of the business dialogue that we, as a business community, so greatly enjoy is an achievement by the US government officials who voiced their strong support for the trade agenda in March this year during the meeting between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Uzbekistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulaziz Kamilov. Our special thanks go to the US Department of Commerce, USTR and the US Embassy in Tashkent, which remain determined and committed to doing business with Uzbekistan and identifying areas of mutual cooperation in which our countries could engage such as agriculture and food processing. We appreciate their determination to work together with their Uzbek counterparts on creating an improved operating environment for doing business in the local market and its neighboring countries. We would also like to thank the US EXIM Bank and OPIC for their efforts to review the existing financial and insurance requirements that can lead to a more significant commercial role by the US in the Uzbek market.
While this year concludes our celebrations for the 20th anniversary it also opens a new era for the chamber and our members. We are proud about our achievements and are honored to have the trust and confidence of the American and Uzbek people to continue with our mission of building stronger relations and business opportunities for our countries to prosper. We thank you all for your support and engagement and look forward to another year of progress and business successes.
Happy Holidays and a Prosperous New Year!
Carolyn Lamm, AUCC Chairperson
Timothy McGraw, AUCC President
