Agenda• Slovak Republic

• About AmCham Slovakia

• Overview of AmCham Activities

• Committee on Business Academic Cooperation

• AmChams in Europe

• Q&A

Slovak Republic

• Population of 5.4 million

• Capital City Bratislava

• Location in the heart of Europe

• Slovakia adopted the Euro as its national currency on 1 January, 2009.

ABOUT AMCHAM SLOVAKIA

The American Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak Republic

The American Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak

Republic• Founded in Slovakia in 1993

• Officially authorized by the Ministry of Interior in May 1994

• Independent and self-supporting organization, dependant on contributions from its members, companies operating in Slovakia

• Independent of the US or Slovak government

• The most active foreign chamber in Slovakia

• Approximately 100 events and other activities & initiatives every year

The American Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak Republic

The American Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak Republic

Major business sectors in membership• Information Technologies (29)• Consulting and Corporate Advisory (27)• Manufacturing and Production (26)

Recruiting and Executive Search (21)Banking, Insurance and Finance (19)Legal Advisory (19)Education and Training (17)Automotive Industry (14)

Marketing, Advertising and PR (14)Hotels, Restaurants and Hospitality services (13)Accounting and Auditing (11)

PresidentIgor KOTTMANCiti

First Vice PresidentGeorge BABCOKEU. S. Steel Košice

Second Vice PresidentPeter ŠKODNÝAccenture

Third Vice PresidentMarcel REBROŠCisco Slovakia

Vice President of FinanceMark EBERSTKPMG

Board of Directors 2010/2011

Charles HACKETTGlaxoSmithKline

Milan HÁNIMP Consulting

Julian JUHASZSquire Sanders

Pavol KOPEČNÝEcenter

Martin KUBALAHewlett Packard

Jacob PREISLERPhilip Morris Slovakia

Eric ASSIMAKOPOULOSThe Carlton Hotel & Offices

Michaela BENEDIGOVÁSEESAME Communication

Todd BRADSHAWPricewaterhouseCoopers

Roman BRESTOVANSKÝIBM Slovakia

Stephen CAULFIELDDELL

Peter ČEREŠNÍKMicrosoft Slovakia

Official Mission Statement

The mission of the AmCham Slovakia is to be the leading representative for U. S., Slovak and international business in Slovakia, and to promote the global

competitiveness of the country.

Main Points of Focus:

Contacts

Information

Advocacy

2002, 2006 & 2010 - Before the 2002, 2006 and the 2010 Parliamentary Elections AmCham hosted

the

“Slovak Elections Political Party Speaker Series“

AmCham Events - Contacts

"Innovation Policy and Technology Transfer Conference“ – April 2010

Major Events

"Making Slovakia a Better Business Place" SME Survey and Conference

December 2010

Major Events

The Foreign Investors Survey focused on three main areas:

1. Competitive Workforce

2. Better Regulation

3. Current Issues and Trends

FDI Survey -- Current Issues and Trends

• A vast majority of foreign companies want to keep their operations at least at current levels or even expand • strong indication that Slovakia remains competitive

FDI Survey -- Current Issues and Trends

1. Monitoring & Issue Identification

2. Providing Information

3. Providing Access to Decision-Makers

4. Sharing Ideas, Best Practices & Commenting on

Legislation

5. Speaking with One Voice & Advocating Business Interests

AmCham Policy/Advocacy Activities

Monitoring & Issue IdentificationAmCham Legislative and Policy Update

Legislation in the pipeline

National and EU level of decision-making

Bi-weekly e-mail updates

Highlights in Connection

AmCham Policy/Advocacy Activities

Providing Information - Policy briefs and articles: Slovak Parliamentary Elections Main Elements of the Government Program Regulatory Impact Assessments Labor Code Revision Social Insurance Law Revision Income Tax Act Revision

Providing Access to Decision-Makers:

SR: Prime Minister plus all relevant ministers and state

secretaries

EU level: Commissioners, Members of the European

Parliament, etc.

AmCham Policy/Advocacy Activities

AmCham Committees and Task Forces

Sharing Ideas, Best Practices & Commenting on Legislation

• membership-driven, democratically elected leadership, regularly reporting to the Board

Committee on Business-Academic Cooperation Employment and Social Affairs Committee Health Care Committee Tax Committee Public Procurement Task Force Telecom Working Group, State Aid Task Force NEW: FDI Committee Other Initiatives: TOURISM, CSR, CIVIL CODE

AmCham Policy/Advocacy Activities

Speaking with One Voice & Advocating Business Interests

AmCham Policy/Advocacy Activities

AmCham Publications – “Connection” Magazine

• improved, modified and expanded • one of AmCham’s most appreciated services• widely read throughout the international business community

BUSINESS/ACADEMIC COOPERATIONCOMMITTEE

One of the most active committees in the American Chambers of Commerce

The Ministry of Education invited AmCham Slovakia to join its Advisory Committee on Education Law and Law on Vocational Education to comment on Education Law and drafting of the Law on Vocational Education.

Seven out of nine AmCham comments incorporated into Educational laws.

Advocacy & Legislative Contribution

COOPERATION WITH OTHER AMCHAMS

AmChams in Europe

AmChams in Europe

“The AmCham Network”

Today represents the corporate interests of well over 17,000 American and European companies. All Member Chambers are members of the U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Encompasses approx. 40 countries

Over 20 million employees.

Member companies account for more than $1.1 billion in investment on both sides of the Atlantic.

Top 10 Reasons for Investing in Slovakia!

1. Central European hub.

2. Political & economic stability3. 19% flat tax rate4. Availability of highly skilled workforce5. Low labor costs vs. high labor productivity6. Liberal labor code7. Large selection of industrial land and offices available for purchase/lease8. Strong engineering, math and sciences tradition9. Infrastructure growing steadily

10. Consistent economic growth

THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION!

More information at: www.amcham.skAmerican Chamber of Commerce in SR Jake Slegers, Executive Directoroffice@amcham.sk