Dear Members and Friends,

As the year comes to a close you are probably facing some of the same questions I am, namely, where did the time go, why have I not achieved more, and what am I going to do next year if the same conditions prevail.
For most of us in the business community we are obliged to deal with budgets, forecasts and business plans that have an important impact on our livelihood as they are often used as benchmarks of our accomplishments and achievements. The past year has been full of challenges and it would seem that 2008 will be more of the same with our local uncertainties being compounded by many of the events and happenings abroad.
While AmCham ends the year in good financial health with a committed membership, we will enter the New Year with a new executive director and the prospects of a variety of innovations designed to provide more value to each of you.
I am also hopeful that AmCham will be able to pick-up and involve itself with the priorities being established by such organizations as the Shanghai Cooperative Organization and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Eurasia Business Platform, where regional integration and collaboration are key themes and trade, customs and the movement of goods and services are targeted areas for improvement.
There is no lack of things to do but let me first and foremost thank each of you for your support to AmCham and to then wish you and your families the very best in the months and year ahead.

Warmest regards, Don Nicholson

Letter from the Project Coordinator

Dear Readers

As we go to press we can look at 2007 as a significant year of uncertainty, changes, new elections and opportunities for both AmCham and Uzbekistan. Our next issue will introduce to our readers a new AmCham Board of Directors and a new AmCham Executive Director who will replace Dr. Tatiana Okunskaya. We wish Tatiana all the best in the future and we personally want to thank her for her dedication and hard work on behalf of the AmCham community.
This is the fourth issue of Business Connections in its expanded format and we continue to present our regular features about recent changes in legislation, decrees and resolutions which affect our business community, tax and customs news, reports on past events, AmCham member profiles, feature articles, interviews, committee activities, and regional AmCham news.
We have added in this issue a new feature article titled “Tips and Hints from AmCham Members” where our members share their experience and expertise with our community. I hope this article will encourage others to contribute similar articles to our magazine.
Our publication needs your inputs, suggestions and criticisms in order for it to properly reflect the interests of our AmCham community and to help mold the image AmCham wants to project to our friends, partners and host government.

Charles Rudd