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About
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AMERICAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN INDIA ( AMCHAM – India
)
The
American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM
- India) is an association of American business
organisations operating in India. AMCHAM - India
is accredited to the Chamber of Commerce of USA,
Washington DC, U.S.A. (COCUSA). It is also a full
member of the Asia Pacific Council of American
Chambers of Commerce (APCAC).
Established in 1992, AMCHAM has around 500 members.
Companies of US origin make up about 95 percent
of membership, the remaining being individual
or honorary members.
The incumbent U.S. Ambassador to India is the
Honorary President of AMCHAM. AMCHAM enjoys a
very close relationship with the US Embassy officials
and receives tremendous support in fulfilling
its objectives.
AMCHAM’s
principle objective is to:
a) Promote activities that would encourage and
stimulate investment by US companies in India
b) To support ongoing business operations of its
members.
c) Encourage bilateral trade between India and
USA.
d) AMCHAM fulfills these objectives in a variety
of ways, such as:
Providing
a forum on an organised basis in which American
business organisations in India can discuss and
identify common issues and interests regarding their
economic and commercial interests in India and /
or the United States.
-
Providing
opportunities to members to represent and
express their views and opinions, especially
regarding trade, commerce, finance, services,
industry, agriculture and related issues and
to seek to understand and give effect to such
opinions to the extent considered desirable
and possible.
-
Maintaining
Sectoral Committees to implement the primary
objectives of these committees
-
Undertake
advocacy on policies and procedures affecting
AMCHAM members’ operations in specific sectors
as well as affecting the growth of foreign
direct investment in India.
Members
of AMCHAM are typically American companies operating
in India and Indian / US nationals living in India,
who could be of assistance in promoting the objectives
of AMCHAM.
There are four categories of membership:
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-
Additional
Member (from Corporate Member organizations)
-
-
This
membership is offered to American companies operating
in India:
1. Either as a 100% subsidiary of a U.S. Company
2. Or as a Branch Office (with Reserve Bank of
India approval)
3. Or as a Liaison Office (with Reserve Bank of
India approval)
4. Or as a majority equity holder in a joint venture
5. Or as an equal partner in a joint venture but
the management control being with the U.S. Company.
6. Or as a minority equity holder where an investment
cap on that particular sector is imposed by the
Government of India and the US company has invested
to the maximum extent permissible under the cap.
Proof of management control being with the US
company is required to be submitted by the company
and approved by the Executive Board.
Corporate
members can have additional membership from the
same organization either at the same Chapter or
at any other Chapter of AMCHAM. These members
do not have any voting rights at any AMCHAM meetings.
This
is offered by invitation by AMCHAM’s National
Executive Board at its sole discretion to Indian
/ US Nationals living in India who, in the opinions
of the Executive Board, would be of assistance
in promoting the objectives of AMCHAM.
Honorary
Members are individuals and/or entities so appointed
solely by invitation by AMCHAM’s National Executive
Board at its sole discretion. These members do
not pay membership subscription and do not vote
at AMCHAM meetings.
AMCHAM
has its main base of operations at Delhi and has
five Regional Chapters at Bangalore in Karnataka,
Chennai
( Madras ) in Tamil Nadu, Hyderabad in Andhra
Pradesh, Kolkata ( West Bengal ) and Mumbai (
Bombay ) in Maharashtra.
If
you are interested in becoming a member of AMCHAM,
please fill in the Application Form and send it
to the Executive Director of AMCHAM for processing
it through the membership committee which examines
all membership applications and decides on admission
of all new members. The annual ( calender year
) membership subscription is as follows :
Corporate Member Rs.
50,000.00
Individual
Member Rs.
25,000.00
Additional
Member
Rs. 25,000.00
Members
joining after June 30 in any year, pay only half
the amount for that year.
Networking
and Business Functions
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Participate
in luncheon meetings where members may meet
each other and hear distinguished speakers
and other persons of prominence.
-
Breakfast
and Lunch meetings with visiting US Official
and Business Delegations where members may
express their views for onward transmission
by the delegation to the Government of India
/ U.S.A. officials. This has been a very effective
means of communication.
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Participation
in Sectoral Committee Meetings. These committees
discuss issues on policies and procedures
of concern to the members in their respective
sectors. Based on the inputs provided by the
members, AMCHAM prepares Position Papers and
initiates dialogue with the concerned authorities
on all matters of concern and interest to
the members.
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Participation
in Business Round Tables, Briefings and Seminars
on subjects of wide interest organized by
AMCHAM either independently or in association
with other Chambers.
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Meeting
with U.S Embassy officials including the Ambassador,
Consular section, etc. who also attend AMCHAM
meetings regularly.
-
Participation
in AMCHAM sponsored business delegations.
- Participation in AMCHAM supported trade fairs
& Exhibitions in the country and overseas.
Regional
Linkage
Business
links with the neighbouring countries through
co-operation with other bilateral chambers and
participation in business delegations to these
countries.
Information
Publications
The
Chamber has two regular publications (free to members)
| The
American Chamber Of Commerce In India Mission
|
The
American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM) is
an association of American business organisations
operating in India and is accredited to the US Chamber
of Commerce, Washington D.C., USA.
The
Chamber's principle objective is to promote activities
that would encourage and stimulate investment by
the US companies in India by :
-
Providing
a forum on an organised basis in which American
business organisations in India can discuss
and identify common interests regarding their
economic and commercial interests in India and
/ or the United States.
-
Providing opportunities to the members to represent
and express their views and opinions, especially
regarding trade, commerce, finance, industry,
agriculture and related issues and to seek to
understand and give effect to such opinions
to the extent considered desirable and possible.
-
Maintaining
an influential and active Executive Committee
and a range of Sectoral Committees to implement
the primary objective.
Established
in 1992 and financed by annual membership fees,
the Chamber has about 300 members. Companies of
US origin make up about 95 per cent of membership,
the remaining being individual or honorary members.
The
Chamber enjoys a very close relationship with the US Embassy officials and receives
tremendous support in fulfilling its objectives.
AMCHAM
is linked with other American Chambers worldwide through its relationship with
the US Chamber of Commerce and US-India Business Council in Washington, D.C.
| Activities
Of The Chamber's System Of Sectoral Committees |
The
Chamber's activities are undertaken through several
Sectoral Committees, in addition to a separate
Program ommittee. Through its contacts with the
United States Chamber of Commerce in Washington,
D.C, American Chamber of Commerce in other countries,
US-India Business Council in Washington D.C.,
India - US Joint Business Council in New Delhi,
US associated bilateral chambers in India and
neighboring countries, the Chamber can provide
its members a useful source of information on
issues important to members. A major source of
information is the Chamber's system of Sectoral
Committees.
The purpose of these Sectoral Committees is to:
- Provide
members with information about government policies
important to their business interests.
-
Provide forums, meetings and seminars in which
these issues are discussed.
- Submit
Chamber's memoranda to the concerned authorities
and follow up on relevant issues affecting members'
business.
-
Organise meetings to enable the members do networking
and build up a wide range of business and official
contacts.
