From October 21 to October 29, 2023, representatives of business delegations from the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan participate in the initiative “AmCham Regional Business Tour.” Organized by the AmCham Kyrgyzstan, this tour will provide participants with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the American business approach and develop international business initiatives.

Representatives of Kyrgyz companies, such as Alliance Altyn, Amanat Asia, Helios Group Development, Jashylcha, and Kreston Bishkek, as well as representatives of Uzbek companies, including FC LLC FIRSTGROUP and TBC Bank Uzbekistan, and Tajik companies, including CJSC “Sughurtai avvalini milli,” Kamolot Tijorat LLC, and Zamoni Navin LLC, will have the opportunity to:

➢ Familiarize themselves with the American business approach: Tour participants will have the opportunity to meet successful American companies, learn about their management methods, marketing strategies, and innovative approaches.
➢ Establish business connections: The tour will provide an opportunity to meet with American entrepreneurs, investors, and experts in various industries, which can contribute to future partnerships and investment opportunities.
➢ Exchange knowledge and experience: Tour participants can exchange knowledge and experience with their American counterparts, contributing to the development of professional skills and business expertise.

On October 23, 2023, as part of the Regional Business Tour in the USA, the delegation had a unique opportunity to visit the headquarters of influential companies and global leaders in the field of innovation and technology located in Silicon Valley.

Asror Arabzhanov, co-founder of Silkroad Innovation Hub, met with a delegation and shared insights about the company and his own work experience. Asror discussed how the idea for Silkroad Innovation Hub originated and why investors haven’t shown sufficient interest in investing in Central Asian countries, despite the region’s vast potential. In light of this situation, rather than attempting to attract investments for each country individually, the founders decided that promoting the region as a whole would be more effective. This decision is supported by the emergence of local accelerator programs in recent years, with local entrepreneurs showing the potential to become startup founders. Therefore, the endeavor to act as a unified region appears more promising and encouraging.
Silkroad Innovation Hub is a private initiative with the aim of promoting Central Eurasia as a unified region in the heart of Silicon Valley. Silkroad Innovation Hub serves as a significant platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and partnership development among IT professionals, entrepreneurs, and prominent leaders in the field in the region.

Sophie Alcorn, the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law located in Silicon Valley, and a leading immigration attorney in the United States, is a certified specialist in U.S. immigration and civil law, accredited by the California State Bar. Sophie provided an overview of various types of visas available to entrepreneurs and investors looking to develop their businesses in the United States. She also shared information about how she and her team support startups, international founders, and talented individuals from around the world in the process of obtaining American visas and green cards. During the meeting, Sophie addressed questions from each delegate regarding the procedures and processes for obtaining various business visas, as well as the necessary documentation and tax obligations.

On October 24th, a series of interesting meetings were prepared for the business delegation from Central Asia.

The delegation met with Mr. Sean Randolph, Senior Director of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute. Mr. Randolph discussed the work of the Bay Area Council, an organization based in San Francisco that comprises more than 350 companies from various sectors of the economy, both locally and internationally. The primary focus of the Bay Area Council is international trade and investment, including innovation and startups. The Economic Institute also emphasizes research and collaborates with other research centers, with an emphasis on research to promote regional development. Mr. Randolph also highlighted the role of venture capital, investments, and collaboration with government agencies.

On the same day, the business delegation met with Mr. Rodney Fong, President and CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and Ms. Anita Huang, Chief of Staff of the Chamber. The Chamber actively supports business and economic development in the San Francisco region through advocacy and assistance to entrepreneurial activities. They shared information about the advantages of doing business in San Francisco and provided valuable insights to the participants.

Mr. Douglas Wallace, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service, explained how his organization helps American companies find foreign partners and bring business delegations to the U.S. He also emphasized the importance of working with technology and innovation, as well as investments.

Ms. Sandra Donzella, Deputy Managing Director of the Western Region of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, presented on the social, economic, and investment potential of the United States and the activities of the bank. EXIT Bank provides financial services not offered by private financial institutions and fills gaps in commercial and structured financing areas. The bank takes on country-specific risks and credit risks that commercial banks do not, helping connect the financing of American product imports with financing provided by other governments.

Delegation members visited the University of California, Berkeley, considered one of the world’s top public universities. In addition to this event, they engaged in business discussions with professors from the university, including Ms. Ronda Shrader, Executive Director of the Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Program and Bay Area NSF I-Corps Node, Mr. Gautam Vassar, Executive Director of the Fisher Center for Business Analytics, and Ms. Rupalee Ruchismita, Director of Research at the Growing Market Center.

University professors provided information on technology, entrepreneurship, and future challenges related to artificial intelligence. They also emphasized that developing countries in Central Asia should not worry about the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, as there are many opportunities in agriculture and other fields.

As part of the business tour, the delegation met with Mr. Jeff Wallace, the founder of Global Kinetics, an accelerator for early and mid-stage market development for clients seeking to establish or expand their presence in the U.S. market. He is also an experienced specialist in the corporate mobility industry. Mr. Jeff Wallace is accelerator in fostering startup development, helping them find their niche and establish new connections. His presentation was filled with valuable advice on how startups should communicate and present themselves to garner interest and initiate long-term collaborations.

AmCham discussed further collaboration opportunities with Mr. Jeff Wallace and planned joint training and events where Jeff will serve as a speaker. This is an incredible opportunity for all our participants to learn more about global trends and connect to global networks.

In our last meeting, the delegation met with the founders of a company specializing in asphalt surface maintenance. Interestingly, they develop and manufacture their own machines to provide these services. The delegation discussed various aspects and innovations in road surface maintenance and learned how in-house manufacturing of machines can improve service quality.

On October 25, 2023, the delegation met with Linda Becker, who holds the position of CEO of SFMade.

SFMade is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting local manufacturers since 2010. The organization’s mission is to promote manufacturing, drive innovation, and create quality jobs to contribute to the sustainable and diverse development of the Silicon Valley region. SFMade aims to establish a thriving ecosystem where manufacturers can operate successfully, generating jobs that benefit not only individuals but the entire community.

The organization’s network today unites more than 730 local manufacturers in San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay of San Francisco, providing over 10,000 jobs. They strongly believe in the power of local manufacturing, and when production remains local, it works wonders. It promotes equal economic opportunities, strengthens the local economy, and adds extra energy to our already impressive community.

On October 26, 2023, as part of business visit to the United States, a delegation from Central Asia visited several key organizations, including the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), and the International Trade Administration (ITA).

The meeting with Mrs. Marisa Lago, Deputy Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, was particularly inspiring. Mrs. Lago expressed her support for women entrepreneurship and was pleased that women are leading the American Chambers of Commerce. She also emphasized the importance of networking initiatives between Central Asian countries and highlighted the significance of developing collaboration between U.S. businesses and Central Asian countries.

During the meeting, discussions also revolved around the SOBIT program, which encompasses numerous agricultural projects. Additionally, the delegation discussed working groups related to the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) and agreed to continue their collaborative efforts in this direction.

The International Trade Administration (ITA), a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, actively contributes to strengthening the competitiveness of American industry. ITA promotes global trade and investment while ensuring fair trade by strictly adhering to trade laws and international agreements. The organization focuses on improving the global business environment and provides support to American companies, helping them compete in both domestic and international markets. ITA consists of three interconnected business units: Global Markets, Industry and Analysis, and Enforcement and Compliance. These units work together to develop and implement innovative international trade and investment policies and strategies, as well as ensure compliance with U.S. trade laws and agreements.

During the meeting with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the delegation was thoroughly briefed on IFC’s activities in Central Asia and its global initiatives. IFC, as a global bank, provides investments and offers loans on a global scale, including in Central Asian countries, with very low interest rates.

IFC actively develops and supports advisory projects, impacting the private sector and fostering business development. IFC’s primary mission is to combat poverty through the support of private entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship.

During the meeting, the delegation inquired about the requirements for businesses to obtain investments and loans from IFC. IFC representatives shared information about their team’s work in Central Asia, highlighting their activity and specialization in various sectors such as financial markets, infrastructure, and others.

IFC also recommended that the delegation collaborate with the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) to obtain information about opportunities for cooperation with IFC on the ground. This will provide additional resources and knowledge necessary for the development of businesses and investment projects in the Central Asian region.

On October 27, 2023, as part of a business tour in the United States, a delegation from AmChams met with representatives of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the World Bank.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest non-profit lobbying organization, representing the interests of a wide range of business circles and associations in the United States. During the meeting, possible directions for cooperation and knowledge exchange in the fields of education and cultural values were discussed. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce clarified its role as a more political institution and expressed its willingness to collaborate with local sectors. They also emphasized their educational programs, the information about which is regularly disseminated through social media and newsletters. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce mentioned their focus on lobbying efforts and their access to various government entities.

Founded on April 12, 1912, the Chamber has more than 300,000 members, 3,000 regional and state chambers affiliated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and over 90 American chambers of commerce abroad. The mission of the chamber is to «promote the progress of humanity by creating an economic, political, and social system based on the principles of freedom, encouragement, initiative, opportunity, and responsibility.»

The meeting with the World Bank included discussions regarding their assistance to the government of Kyrgyzstan and the private sector through technical projects. Current projects and the involvement of the private sector, including our delegates and their companies, were discussed. World Bank representatives mentioned their current involvement in the field of information technology and innovation, which is currently a priority area. They expressed their willingness to provide assistance in both infrastructure and technical projects, as well as advisory support.

The World Bank is an international financial organization established to provide financial and technical assistance to developing countries. Since 1947, the World Bank has financed over 12,000 development projects, offering traditional loans, interest-free credits, and grants.

On October 28, 2023, a meeting took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, between a delegation from AmCham in Central Asia and representatives of the Mid-Atlantic – Eurasia Business Council.

The primary goal of the Business Council has always been to create opportunities for companies based in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, to strengthen their presence in Eurasia, attract Eurasian enterprises to the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, and establish the Mid-Atlantic region as a leading partner in Eurasian-American innovative technological and entrepreneurial cooperation.

During the meeting, Val Kogan, President, Mid-Atlantic – Eurasia Business Council, shared his extensive experience and introduced the delegation to his colleagues from various business sectors.

David Briel, Deputy Secretary, Office of International Business Development, Department of Community & Economic Development, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, was also present. He presented the state of Pennsylvania, its achievements, and discussed the work of his team, which supports Pennsylvania companies in developing export strategies and attracting foreign direct investments.
Boris Foxman, Founder/CEO, iVenture Accounting Group, presented his company, which provides accounting and tax services worldwide using modern technologies and system integration.

Alexander Bachmanov, Science and Strategy Lead, GSK, Monell Chemical Senses Center, shared his experience in the fields of chemistry and life sciences.

During the meeting, the Central Asian delegation presented their goals and objectives, exchanged contacts, and agreed to hold business meetings and B2B meetings in Philadelphia next year.