Our members are the leading US and New Zealand corporates and as a true bilateral organisation 40% of our members are American companies, 10% other multinationals and 50% New Zealand companies.
Over the last decade we have been part of the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce annual Washington Doorknock to lobby Congress and the Administration.
We are actively pursuing the advancement of the Trans Pacific Partnership, a Free Trade Agreement between the USA, Singapore, Chile, Brunei, Australia, Peru & New Zealand. possibility of a Free Trade Agreement between the United States and New Zealand.
We were actively involved with the recently held US NZ Partnership Forum in Washington DC that saw the most influential delegation of political and business leaders ever to visit the USA.
In New Zealand our activities have included lobbying government on changes to the Resource Management Act, the privatisation of state and local body assets, surveying members and other overseas-owned companies on the current environment for Foreign Direct Investment in New Zealand and lobbying government with the results.
The Annual AmCham Survey of US companies operating in New Zealand on the business environment and the issues facing them attracts high media interest and provides the key platforms for dialogue with both governments.
We are working with the Department of Labour on a pilot scheme to attract skilled people from the USA to relocate to New Zealand to assist reduce the current skills shortage.
We have a number of Special Interest Groups & Committees for members to have their say on key business issues and for making recommendations to the Board regarding lobbying. The key groups are: Advisory Board, Trade Negotiations, Taxation; Business & Education. We encourage people with new ideas to join these groups and as issues develop new groups will be established.
In 2000 we introduced an Annual Awards ceremony to celebrate success and innovation in trading and business relationships. These awards have proved to be extremely successful with previous winners reporting significant benefits to their businesses. Over the last ten years our sponsors have provided over $300,000 of prizes to our award winners. This has become the highlight of our year with the Prime Minister presenting the export awards for 6 out of the 10 years.
Companies apply for these awards. The key award categories are:
Importer of the Year from the USA
Exporter of the Year to the USA – under NZ$500 000
Exporter of the Year to the USA – NZ$ 500 0001 to NZ$ 5million
Exporter of the Year to the USA – over NZ$ 5milion
Other recognition awards, which come from nominations, are:
Investor of the Year to or from the USA
AmCham Supporter of the Year
We hold about 20 key events (breakfasts, lunches, debate forums, dinners, networking and sporting events) throughout the year profiling international and local keynote speakers. These events are held in Auckland and Wellington and are well supported by members and vary in number from small interest groups up to 700+.
We work along side the US Foreign Commercial Service in Wellington to assist US companies sell into the NZ market as well as work along side New Zealand Trade & Enterprise in New Zealand and the USA to assist exporters sell into the US market.
We have established a database of over 9,000 names (approx. 7,500 in NZ and 1,500 in the US/Asia Pacific) who are trading or doing business between the US and NZ.
We have access to the US Chamber network in the USA that is one of the world’s largest not-for-profit business federations, representing 3,000,000 businesses, 2,800 state and local chambers, 830 business associations, and.102 American Chambers of Commerce abroad.
Options for corporate subscription for companies within the Auckland and Wellington regions are:
Sustaining: This is for the larger corporates who wish to maintain a higher profile and utilise the benefits of membership to a wider group within the company throughout the country.
Corporate:
For the Rest of New Zealand and Overseas:
All principals and nominees receive the following:
AmCham newsletters (11 pa)
Key invites for non-chargeable events.
Business referrals.
Business introductions & networking
