Dear AmCham mem- bers, all the extended AmCham community and friends!

It is coming like a very strange phenomenon to me. Am I saying Good-Bye to AmCham community and friends? Is it really happening to me?
Seven and a half years of my life went entirely under the motto “American Chamber of Commerce in Uzbekistan”. All our Monthly Meetings, Happy Hours converted into Business Mixers, all committee meetings and seminars it was my way of life, my extended family.

I want to express how much I have enjoyed working with each of you and thank you for the support you have provided to me and the organization. AmCham represents a big share of the foreign business community in Uzbekistan. Our membership consists not only of the US and other foreign companies operating in different economic sectors in Uzbekistan, embrace local companies and welcome every expression of support to promote the improvement of favorable investment climate in Uzbekistan based on transparent business legislation and the rule of law. 

The AmCham Board of Directors is undertaking a lot of efforts in setting up a dialog with the different governmental bodies to discuss situations businesses are facing in their operations in Uzbekistan. This would not have been possible without an active and committed Board of Directors.  I am thanking each Board member I have worked with for these seven and a half years for all their support. All these efforts are represented in AmCham's White Papers, sometimes very hot debates at AmCham Monthly Meetings, and in recommendations of AmCham seminars.

With deep gratitude and sadness at the same time I will remember our fruitful cooperation with the U.S. embassy in Uzbekistan, all continuous and kind support of its high quality professional staff members. Participation in the Board of Directors meetings, assistance in Monthly Meetings, socializing at the Business Mixers, everything has helped us to keep the flag of American Chamber of Commerce very high.

Very special part of my work was devoted to Good Governance program. I am very grateful to all my partners at the U.S. Department of Commerce, who initially have helped me to undertake training at George Washington University and later extended small grants to American Chamber of Commerce in Uzbekistan to run such a program. AmCham office has launched a series of seminars on corporate governance, which is important for any types of organizations, whether it is a business or a governmental organization. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our partners with whom we so successfully fulfilled two programs of Good Governance training and promotion.

For the last two years I have worked very closely with the regional representative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on establishment and strengthening of a special program called Eurasia Business Platform that promotes regional cooperation in the Central Asian region. I sincerely hope that my successor will continue to work in this direction aimed at the development of regional cooperation.  Such issues as water management, transportation, telecommunication, investment and trade require the collaboration of each country of the region, each AmCham of the region. This is particularly important as we have helped the establishment of AmCham in Kyrgyzstan and doing our best in assisting the formation of AmCham in Tajikistan.  

Everything said above is the basis of my belief that the American Chamber of Commerce in Uzbekistan currently has all opportunities to encourage an improved foreign investment climate in Uzbekistan, to keep a strong membership and to carry on its task mission.

My leave at the end of the year is caused by family reasons. I am looking forward to be closer to my family, to celebrate the wonderful Holiday season.

Please take the package I am keeping in my hands on the photo as a symbol of all my wishes of prosperity to you and your businesses, of seasonal greetings, of all wonders that may happened to you and your families.

Very Best Wishes,
Tatiana Okunskaya