Robert Pace: We promote rapprochement of Uzbekistan and the US

by Mavlonjon Yuldashev, Journalist.

Recently a meeting was held with leaders of American-Uzbek Chamber of Commerce [AUCC] and companies "Case New-Holand", "Newmont Mining", "Nukem", "Donovant", "Katerpiller", "White and Case" and other companies, which have partnership relations with our country. This extended meeting was participated also by representatives of the Congress and US president administration - Senator S. Brownback and acting Adviser of the State Secretary on New Inedependent States J. Bairley. Executive Director of the international organization Robert Pace is telling us about the present development of American-Uzbek Chamber of Commerce..

-Mr. Pace, could you, please, say a few words about the American-Uzbek Chamber of Commerce?

-For already several years I am an Executive Director of American-Uzbek Chamber of Commerce. I work at the Board of Directors, including prominent American business leaders of high rank and other professionals, dealing with Republic of Uzbekistan. The president of our organization and Chairman of the Board of Directors is Mr. Lawrence T. Kurlander from "Newmont Mining" Corporation. Our office is in the center of Washington D.C., not far from the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the US. Assisted by the embassy we equipped the office with majority of books, pictures, craftsworks and other objects, representing cultural traditions, creative search, ideas and values of Uzbek people.

-Mr. Pace, it will be very interesting for our readers to know when AUCC was formed, main goals of its creation. How effective was its role in rapprochement of business circles of two countries?

-Since it was founded in 1993, the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce [AUCC] has worked hard to promote trade, investment and cultural links between our two countries. Among its founders were businessmen and lawyers, which had already revealed their active interest to young independent Republic of Uzbekistan through development of business and personal links. One of its main goals is giving objective information to representatives of US businesspersons on economic situation in your country, on conditions for making business. Over this period of time, the AUCC has steadily increased the tempo of its activities. Under the current leadership of our President, Mr. Lawrence T. Kurlander, and with the support of an active and involved Board of Directors, we constantly strive to increase knowledge of Uzbekistan in the United States, especially among the business community. In this regard, we enjoy excellent ties with businesspersons in both the United States and in Uzbekistan. In addition to our annual conferences, we hold events monthly in the United States, principally in Washington, D.C. but at times as well in other major commercial and business centers. Our speakers are usually distinguished government and business personalities with knowledge of the Uzbekistan market. AUCC also has helped to bring leading young musical talents from Uzbekistan to the United States from time to time.

-The US have probably accumulated certain experience in operation of such organizations.

- There are business councils and chambers of commerce that do exist in the United States for purposes of doing business with other CIS states. These groups, most of which are headquartered in Washington, D.C., vary widely in their size and scope of activity.

-What kind of work do you conduct jointly with the Embassy of our Rapublic on providing information to American business circles for attracting foreign investments to Uzbekistan? It's known, that a meeting with AUCC has been organized recently at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the US.

- In the United States, AUCC works closely with the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan to provide current and accurate information to American business about the attractions of Uzbekistan as a destination for foreign investment. AUCC appreciates greatly the cooperative atttitude demonstrated by the diplomatic and consular officials of Uzbekistan in the United States. AUCC has held several major events at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in recent times, including our annual conference in May 2000.These events often included participation by senior officials of the Government of Uzbekistan, at levels such as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister and Deputy Minister, as well as by leading businesspersons from your country. Due to the high level of the representatives from Uzbekistan who have taken part in these meetings, AUCC has been able to attract hundreds of leading American business executives, government officials, members of Congress, and leaders in the American non-profit community.

-I've heard, that in May AUCC Conference will take place in Tashkent. What problems will be discussed there, who will be invited there, what US businesspersons have already given their consent to participate at this conference and what are they going to discuss with their Uzbek partners?

-We anticipate that our next annual conference, taking place on May 23 in Tashkent, will attract a wide range of business executives, government officials and potential investors. Already, a number of leading American and international corporations have indicated their intention to participate in this event. As previously, we look forward to hearing at this conference the official views of the Government of Uzbekistan on its latest initiatives in the areas of domestic economic development, attraction of foreign investment, privatization and the expansion of bilateral trade. AUCC also looks forward to engaging in a dialogue between our American business members and entrepreneurs from Uzbekistan on various topics regarding contemporary business "best practices", such as business planning, capital formation, investing in small and medium-sized companies, and making us of new technologies and the Internet.

- How do you consider the perspectives for AUCC development?

- Looking ahead to the future, AUCC is highly optimistic about the prospects for increased cooperation between the business communities of our two countries. We believe that the progress achieved during the first ten years of your country's independence provides a solid base upon which to build our future trade and investment relations. AUCC looks forward to working with the Republic of Uzbekistan to help build a prosperous and dynamic economy that will benefit all the citizens of Uzbekistan in the years ahead.

- Mr. Pace, we are very grateful to you for the interview, you have the possibility to convey your wishes to Uzbek people through our newspaper.

-Our organization consider itself a friend of Uzbekistan and its people. American-Uzbek Chamber of Commerce wish all citizens of Uzbekistan prosperity and happy future. AUCC hopes that its efforts will benefit the economic development of Uzbekistan.