About AmCham Slovenia

American Chamber of Commerce in Slovenia – AmCham Slovenia is a voluntary nonprofit organization. It was founded in 1999 on the initiative of the following companies: Microsoft d.o.o., Src informatika d.o.o., Sava Tires d.o.o., Merck Sharp & Dohme Idea Incorporation, Partnair Aviation Services, RFR - Ernst & Young Revisional Company d.o.o., McDonald's Slovenija d.o.o., Eurest d.o.o., Hermes Softlab d.d. and Schering Plough Central East AG. AmCham Slovenia has its headquarters in Ljubljana, on Dunajska 156 Street, however it takes an active part throughout the entire region of the Republic of Slovenia. Momentarily there are 192 corporative members. Its whole activity is financed from the membership fee and sponsorship resources.

Among the main tasks of the Chamber of Commerce is the promotion of business cooperation between the Transatlantic partners Europe and the United States of America i.e. more precisely between Slovenia and the United States of America. The Chamber of Commerce as well plays the key role at promoting towards international business organizations and Slovene companies benevolent business environment. It also stimulates a positive business climate, competitive position, international trade, cooperation at development, at investments,... It is a bridge between the economy and the state, invigorated with arguments, it stimulates a formation of law regulations for simplifying and improving the development of economy, and acts as a forum for the interchange of ideas within the economic operations in Slovenia.

The Chamber´s Regular Annual Meeetings are presided over by a Board of 7 Members. Elected in June 2011, the President of the Board is Matej Potokar, MBA, Director General at Microsoft Business Solutions for CEE Region, whereas the other Board Members are: First Vice-President, Thierry Villard, Managing Director Goodyear Dunlop Tires CSEE, Second Vice-President, Jurij Giacomelli, M.Sc., President of Board of Delo d.d., Nataša Jenčič, Director General Merck, Sharp & Dohme, Robert Trnovec, Director General S&T d.o.o., Matjaž Rakovec, President of the Board of Zavarovalnica Triglav d.d. and Sandi Češko, co-owner of the company Studio Moderna. At the Board there are also the representative of the Embassy of the United States of America in Slovenia and the AmCham Slovenia Executive Director, Ajša Vodnik, M.Sc.

Within the AmCham organization, there are four fundamental pillars:

Networking
AmCham Young Professionals Program
Advocacy
International Cooperation

Networking:
A popular opportunity for networking among members and other target publics is with a rich tradition of already 10 years, the AmCham Business Breakfast at which we host interesting guests from fields of economics, politics or science. We also organize other events such as Business Cocktails, Business Luncheons, Professional Update, Executive Table, seminars, family-sports events.

An important form of activities represent the conferences of international participation. The largest and most visited conference was U.S. - Slovenia Business Bridge with many participants from USA, Europe and Slovenia.

Among larger events organized by AmCham Slovenia, we undoubtedly proudly reckon the visits of the former President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton, Nobel Prize winner, one of the leading environmentalist and former Vice President of USA, Al Gore and the former Secretary of State, General Colin L. Powell.

Advocacy:
One of our main tasks and aims is to establish a stimulative business environment which would enable the growth and development of Slovene and foreign companies in Slovenia and at the same time attract even more foreign, especially American investments. For this purpose the AmCham Members may with their arguments through 8 Committes have influence on forming better social and business conditions. The AmCham Committees are the following: Tax Committee, Labor Committee, Public Procurement Committee, Membership Committee, Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, Environment and Spatial Committee, Intelectual Property Committee, Leadership and Talent Development Committee.

AmCham Young Professionals Program:
The program is our contribution to the social responsibility with which we aim to present to the active population and the young, AmCham Young Professionals, employed at our members´ companies some excellent methods of networking and the so-called education.

International Cooperation:
AmCham Slovenia has been already for a decade a member of AmChams in Europe – association of 44 European AmChams and U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, USA.