Andrea Leuenberger is on the forefront of tourism development in Uzbekistan. As a CIM (Center for International Migration and Development) Integrated Expert on behalf of the German Government, Andrea is permanently based in Bukhara in her 4th year, where she works with the Bukhara Tourism Association to set whole  new  standards  for  private  tourism  enterprise  in Uzbekistan. Andrea has been involved in various aspects of tourism development in Uzbekistan for the last 9 years and has seen the private sector taking great strides to make Uzbekistan a better place to visit.

"Born in Switzerland to a Swiss father and a Danish mother, traveling the world and communicating in different languages have always been essentials in my upbringing. With a background in business, my first job was at the local Chamber of Commerce, followed by a couple of years working in Geneva for Du Pont dc Nemours in the 80's. My interest in Central Asia and romantic notions of far flung and ethereal destinations such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgy/stan, and Samarkand were sparked by travel tales by such famous authors as Ella Maillard, who ultimately made mc understand that my greatest fear was to find myself stranded with no credit card, no hotel reservation and little luggage on unknown territory.

A fear I promptly set out to overcome by traveling solo around Ihc world for over a year in my early 20's. I made it lo the heart of Central Asia via extensive travels in Xinjian Province of China and a year in the Hunza Valley in the Northern Areas of Pakistan and first got to Samarkand as a consultant for the then newly opened Hotel Afrosiab, with a degree in international hotel and restaurant management from one of Switzerland's finest institutions in my pocket. The perfect challenge and a wonderful experience on a human level." Hopping back and forth between cultures over the last 10 years, Andrea is a great believer in "one thing leads to another" and in seizing an opportunity fast when it comes your way. She has held a position as Executive Assistant at the legendary Drake Hotel at Park Avenue in New York, with the five-star Hotel Mont Ccrvin in Zermatt and Scrono, one of the worlds leading Biotech companies in Geneva. As a American I lotel & Motel Association certified hospitality trainer, she has been a hands-on consultant at Cham Palace Damascus, Muskoka Sands Resort in Canada, 1291 Inc. and their various www.1291.com hospitality concepts in New York City, yet frequently returned to Uzbekistan to bring acquired know-how to private entrepreneurs on short term projects. Andrea is most happy when through her talents and her knowledge she can make a constructive difference to those who are committed to helping themselves.

As secretary of the AMCHAM tourism committee, Andrea seizes yet another opportunity to work with government representatives, advising on much needed measures to improve Uzbekistan's image abroad and to raise awareness what enthusiastic yet demanding, well traveled tourists like herself are looking for on the trip of a lifetime in one of the exciting and undiscovered parts of the globe.

For a Dutch citizen, Igor Pakan is not a typical Dutch name, which indeed is correct. I was born in former Czechoslovakia. My parents left the country in 1969 and settled down in the Netherlands. I started my career with ABN AMRO Bank in Prague in 1994. Ever since I fulfilled several assignments for ABN AMRO in the Czech Republic, Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany. I am a MBA graduate from Simon Graduate School of Business Administration, Rochester University, USA. In my spare time I enjoy playing tennis and golf. I like to capture moments in life which means that photography is part of my family life. Further, I have a real passion for Gipsy Jazz. I met my lovely wife Valeria in Prague and wc have two wonderful sons Maxim (7 months) and Sergei (5 years). The Pakan family is looking forward to settle in as soon as possible and enjoy the Uzbek hospitality and culture. Igor Pakan Country Executive Chairman of the Managing Board ABN AMRO Bank NB Uzbekistan A.O.