Life of Guangzhou - The American Chamber of Commerce in South China

Add: Suite 1603, Main Tower, Guangdong International Hotel, 339 Huanshi-dong Rd, Guangzhou 510098
Tel: 8335 1476
Fax: 8332 1642
Email: amcham@amcham-southchina.org
Website: www.amcham-southchina.org

Background

The American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham) is a non-partisan, non-profit business organization, certified in 1995 by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C. AmCham South China has more than 1,100 corporate and individual members, and represents over 800 American and international companies doing business in South China.

Mission Statement

The mission of the American Chamber of Commerce in South China is to promote the development of trade, commerce and investment between the United States and the People’s Republic of China with a special focus on South China; to provide a forum in which member businesses can identify their common interests and discuss solutions for common problems; to work with and advocate member interests with relevant organizations in South China and elsewhere in China, and the United States and to set the standards for corporate social responsibility for the community that the Chamber serves.

Objectives

• To promote the development of trade, commerce, and investment between the United States and the People’s Republic of China,
• To provide a forum in which American businesses in China can identify and discuss common interests regarding their commercial interests in China,
• To work with organizations in China on matters of mutual interest,

• To maintain relations with the Chamber of Commerce of the United States and other Chambers of Commerce or commercial organizations elsewhere, and
• To do all other lawful things as may be incidental or conducive to the attainment of the foregoing objectives.

Leadership

The Chamber is governed by an 11 member Board of Governors, including 2 appointed positions, 4 elected officers, and 5 elected governors. AmCham South China is a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Asia Pacific Association of American Chambers of Commerce (APCAC), and the informal All-China AmCham Group.
What we are doing?

Advocacy

The Chamber represents the views of the American business community in the region and lobby with the local government and US government in the interest of members. The Chamber helps foster a positive business environment in China and works to improve Sino/US commercial relations.

Networking Association

The Chamber focuses on creating and arranging events and activities as a great platform that facilitates communication, networking, information and experience exchange, and business community harmony among members.

Information Services

The Chamber offers publications, including membership directories, business journals, updated policy notification, economic briefing, survey results and other materials to help members better understand current issues and business conducts.

Why join us?

Business Support Programs

Business Visa Program: Direct employees of AmCham Corporate Members can waive personal appearances when applying for B-1 visas to the States. More information on this program is available at the AmCham Office. Membership of one year or longer is required to eligible for the Visa Referral Program.

Business Briefing: AmCham will organize a meeting for companies considering establishing operations in South China, or for visiting company executives, offering expertise, insights and candid advice about the business climate in southern China.

AmCham Library：The Chamber has created an extensive and comprehensive database of various industries. Members are free to make information reference and research at the AmCham Library.

Business Matching Program: The Chamber regularly organizes business-matching conferences cooperating with regional business and investment promotion committees and associations (governmental and non-governmental), in order to keep informed members of first-hand up to date investment intelligence and pre-proposed investment projects in China.

Publications: Membership Directory – An annually published business directory of all member information and contact methods, as well as other useful contacts of foreign consulates, chambers, Chinese government agencies. South China Business Journal – A monthly magazine published by the Chamber providing updates on Chamber events, articles featuring current hot issues with circulation of 6,000 copies for regular issues and 25,000 copies for Canton Fair special issues. Website – www.amcham-southchina.org – A quick and easy access to information about the Chamber at your fingertip. Members can manage their own profiles by accounts log-in.

Business Exposure

Advertising and Publicity: The Chamber provides opportunities for members to get promoted to the international business community in South China through monthly journals, membership directories, AmCham website, events banners, etc. On Membership Directory, your business information will be publicized on the membership directory to let more members and non-members find you. On the South China Business Journal (SCBJ), we welcome insightful and professional articles about various industries from our member companies. For the Special Member Offering program, we display privilege offerings from member merchants on SCBJ and our monthly mailing. (Please refer to the chamber office for more information)
Exposure on Events: The Chamber organizes over 100 events throughout the year with attendance of over 15,000 executives. You can always find the right event and occasion to promote your business to different target audience groups. (Please refer to the chamber office for more sponsorship details.) At the same time, new members will be proudly presented at the quarterly-held Ice Breaking Drinks, which is a networking event to mix up new members into the big family.

Government Relations

U.S. Consulate Briefing: The single best opportunity to meet and mingle with the U.S. Consulate leadership! The Chamber is enjoying the best ever relationship with the U.S. Consulate. U.S. Consulate Briefing is a regular meeting organized by the Chamber, in which we invite Consul General and Chiefs from all Departments and Sections to give an informative presentation on Consular issues and Sino-US relations updates. Over the past years, U.S. Consulate Briefing has proven to be the most direct and effective communication channel between AmCham members and Consulate Officials.

U.S. Government Round-table Meetings: As PRD is getting hot now, we are receiving more and more VIP missions and delegations from Washington D.C. , including the Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Assistant Secretary of Commerce, U.S. Ambassador, Government Accounting Office, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, etc. Members are always free to reflect your problems and issues and your messages will be effectively forwarded to the U.S. government.

Door knock Participation: AmCham South China participates in the annual AmCham-China “door knock” to lobby Congress in Washington D.C. as part of the Chamber’s advocacy efforts.

Local and Central Government Relations: With more than 10 years root in South China, the Chamber has built up a solid cooperative relationship with the local provincial and municipal government agencies including: Department (Bureau) of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, Economic and Trade Commission, Economic and Trade Development Zone, Customs, Bureau of Industry and Commerce, Council of Promotion for International Trade, etc. Members are efficiently guided to find easy solutions. Every year, the Chamber leads a delegation of member companies to attend the China International Fair for Investment and Trade, meeting with the highest-ranking governors at the central, provincial and municipal level. The delegation can express freely its common concerns and interests and better understand policy and implementation in China.

Largest Networking Platform in South China

With more than 100 events throughout the year of excessively 15,000 attendees, the American Chamber of Commerce in South China is the largest foreign chamber of commerce in South China. We design our events and programs based on the needs of members. Events distributed in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Xiamen, Haikou, and other cities include: Networking Drinks, Committee Meetings, Presentations and Seminars, AmCham General Manager Forums, Theme Parties, Business Investment Missions, Government Relations Events, International CEO Summit, etc. You will always find a right one to get acquaintance with your potential business partners.

Informative Source for Decision Makers

AmCham Committee Meeting: A regular gathering of business focus group, with specific areas of interests. Currently the Chamber has five active committees (Human Resource; Intellectual Property Rights; Government Relations; Corporate Social Responsibility; Membership Committee). The latest government policies and implementation issues, common interest and concerns of companies will be introduced and discussed at the meetings respectively. This is also a good learning and experience-sharing platform for middle management, besides the top decision makers.

GM Forum Series – HR; GR; IPR: Valuable professional forums feature in Human Resource, Government Relations, and Intellectual Property Rights issues which call up all General Managers in South China.

Recreation

Not only your business do we care, also your family and life! Every year the Chamber design programs for your family: AmCham Summer BBQ, All-star Baseball Game, Christmas Party, Golf Tournament …… in which you will find a family day full of fun and surprise!

Special Offerings Program:

The Chamber designs a special discount for members for advertising in the SCBJ and the Membership Directory. Corporate delegates and additional corporate delegates are entitled to join privilege programs to enjoy leisure, shopping and F&B services from our merchant alliance.