What AmCham can do for you?

AmCham's Vision
To be the preferred private sector business organisation for the stimulation of free and fair trade and investment within the Americas and the Caribbean.

AmCham's Mission
AmCham will add value to our member companies within the following key focus areas:

1. Enhancement of Competitiveness
2. Generation of new business and market access for services/goods
3. Influence on policies and legislation
4. Transfer of Knowledge
5. Contribution to Sustainable Development

In this context, AmCham Trinidad & Tobago will serve the needs and represent the interests of its members.

Our strong mix of formidable local and international member companies; strong networking links; close association with the U.S. Embassy; alliances with the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA) and the Chambers of Commerce of the United States of America (COCUSA); all ensure rapid access to what you need to compete effectively both locally and in overseas markets. We can therefore secure for members strategic information on doing business in a particular country; as well as set up introductions to the right business organisations or companies in the US and throughout the western hemisphere.

As your door to opportunities in a globalised environment, AmCham T&T offers the following services:-

AmCham U.S. Visa Facilitation

- You are eligible to use this facility for renewal of visitor’s visas from the U.S. Embassy. In addition, when the automated visa appointment services areas are ‘backlogged’, AmCham may facilitate expedited visa appointments for business travel and training for company personnel. This is available at no cost to the executives of member companies as listed on the AmCham database, and their immediate families (spouse / partner and dependent children). Outside of these names, there will be an administrative service charge for member company personnel of TT$150.00 / per passport

AmCham Contact: Phyllis Johnson, Visa Services and Administration

Executive Appointment Service

How does it work? Here are the steps:-

- A request for the Executive Appointment Service is sent to the AmCham in the country of your choice or to the relevant Chamber of Commerce in the United States. Details of your company's business, the length of your stay and the number of appointments that you would require per day are to be included in this request.

- Confirmation is received from the corresponding AmCham or Chamber of Commerce. Research is then done to seek out best-matched companies for you to do business with. Letters are sent and dates and times of appointments are set.

- Upon your arrival to that country, you will receive an itinerary of appointments and profiles of the companies that you will be meeting with. These companies, in turn, would already have received your company profile through the corresponding AmCham or Chamber of Commerce.

You may of course require additional services such as a meeting room with refreshments; possible site visits; taxi service etc. These can be arranged with the corresponding AmCham or Chamber of Commerce. In most cases, a fee is charged. This is discussed individually with companies wishing to use this service.

AmCham Trinidad and Tobago also offers this service to foreign companies
wanting to do business locally.
AmCham cost is: TT$300.00 + VAT per appointment.

AmCham Contacts:
Desiree Gobin-Seecharan, Executive Director

Amcham Introductions
You may already be in contact with a company with whom you would like to do business or make an alliance. AmCham T&T will send a letter of introduction for member companies which will include details such as the length of time your company has been a member of AmCham and, your company’s involvement with Chamber activities etc. AmCham will encourage the setting up of a meeting for you to promote your products and services, but will not endorse an individual company product or service, as we represent several competing companies in any one industry.

AmCham Contact: Sonelle Gibson, Member Services and Events

Access to Amcham Membership Database
Listed AmCham executives may request at any time from AmCham the most updated version of our membership database highlighting companies’ names, addresses and executives’ contact information. An excel version is also available.

AmCham Contact: Sonelle Gibson, Member Services and Events

Amcamtt Monthly Meetings
You will receive notices of our Monthly Meetings, which usually begin at 8:15 a.m. and end between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. AmCham T&T business is usually the first item on the agenda, followed by a guest speaker and a discussion session.

The format of most meetings is a breakfast. Occasionally these meetings may take the form of a Luncheon or Dinner. This may be the case if there is a special event or an important overseas visitor. Your company may also choose to become the corporate associate of a particular meeting for a sponsorship fee.

AmCham Contact: Sonelle Gibson, Member Services and Events

AmCham Board Room Rental

AmCham’s conference room is available for meetings, training sessions and board meetings. Send the particular details regarding meeting needs in terms of seating, catering, equipment, etc. and we will arrange it for you. AmCham’s costs are as follows:

• Half-day rental is TT$600.00 + VAT
• Whole-day rental is TT$1,000.00 + VAT
• Multimedia equipment rental is TT$1,000.00 + VAT and is subject to change depending on your needs
• Catering costs vary depending on your needs.

AmCham Organsing Your Event
(Event MUST be trade or business related)

AmCham can arrange the logistics of your event, all arrangements including sending out invitations via email or otherwise, following for responses, coordination of logistics at venue before and after function, special invitation to ministers / diplomatic corps. and AmCham staff member costs on the day.
AmCham costs are: TT$7,000.00 + VAT - TT$10,000.00 + VAT depending on the scope of your production

Executive InfoSession

Launching a new product or service?

AmCham’s InfoSessions are an excellent way of niche marketing to the decision makers of our 292 member companies, as well as to the wider business community. AmCham will be responsible for sending out notices of the session to our members and the wider business community, registration, organizing the room and refreshments as well as any other administrative duties that may arise. Your company will be responsible for the cost of this meeting.
AmCham cost is: TT$5,000.00 + VAT based on an attendance of up to 30 persons and is subject to change depending on your needs.

AmCham Contact: Sonelle Gibson, Member Services and Events

AmCham Quik News
(Product, seminar or service MUST be trade or trade- related)

AmCham quik news is a bi-weekly e-trade newsletter, that is utilized by AmCham members at no cost, for updating and advertising trade or trade-related business service or product.

AmCham Contact: Melissa Pierre, Trade and Communications
Exclusive Email Mailout Service (EEMS)
(Product, seminar or service MUST be trade or trade- related)

EEMS is gives you the opportunity to detail your event (e.g. conference, seminar, etc.) using an exclusive email to the executives listed on the AmCham database (over 800+ executives). The event advertised must surround business, trade or other trade-related matters.
What are the benefits?

• Piggy-back on the credibility that an AmCham email has in the eyes of the membership
• Utilise our existing, permanently updated email database
• Get a wide reach with specifically targeted recipients

AmCham Contact: Sonelle Gibson, Member Services and Events

AmCham Website – www.amchamtt.com
AmCham’s website features links to government ministries, the diplomatic corps, press releases, trade information, an Investor’s Guide to Trinidad and Tobago (copyright M. Hamel Smith & Co. Ltd), a membership search directory and links to AACCLA and AmChams in the Western Hemisphere. We also encourage feedback on how the website can be improved for members and investors alike.

AmCham Contact:
Melissa Pierre, Trade and Communications
Sonelle Gibson, Member Services and Events

AmCham’s Linkage Magazine
AmCham’s quarterly trade publication is called Linkage, and as a member you will receive free copies of every issue published. Linkage has become a source of information not normally available from other media and is also an excellent medium for your company’s advertisements.

1000 copies are distributed to AmCham’s 295 member companies: Trinidad and Tobago Government Ministers; U.S. embassy Department Heads; Diplomatic Missions in Trinidad and Tobago; the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America and the Caribbean (AACCLA) Washington D.C.; our sister AmChams in 23 countries in the Western Hemishpere; Trinidad and Tobago Embassies and Consular Offices abroad.

We invite you to book early to receive a 5% discount on all advertisements that are confirmed for two (2) isssues or more and an additional 5% on advertisements booked for four (4) issues or more.
AmCham costs are as follows:

Advertising rates for Linkage magazine 2006
(Please add 15% VAT to prices)

AmCham Contact: Melissa Pierre, Trade and Communications
Sonelle Gibson, Member Services and Events

AmCham T&T Reference Library
Our InfoCentre features a number of useful directories and other reference books, as well as access to information through the AmCham network in Latin America and the U.S. Come to the Secretariat at 62A Maraval Road, Newtown, Port of Spain, Trinidad, W.I. and visit our library.

Incoming & Outgoing Trade Missions
Details available upon request.

AmCham Contact:
Melissa Pierre, Trade and Communications
Sonelle Gibson, Member Services and Events

One-On-One Appointments
Details available upon request

AmCham Contact: Sonelle Gibson, Member Service and Events

AmCham T&T Committees
Once a company is a financial member of AmCham, any of the listed principals may join at no cost, an AmCham committee or recommend, in writing a member of their leadership team to sit on one. An alternate is also recommended, so that if the principal delegate cannot attend a committee meeting, the alternate maintains company representation.

All committees require consistent monthly representation at meetings. The purpose of the committees is to encourage members to lend their voice to issues being addressed, and to get information back from AmCham for dissemination in your business. As such active participation is encouraged.

• Participation Procedure, Terms of Reference and How to join an AmCham Committee:
  Once a company is a financial member of AmCham, any of the listed principals may join at no cost, an AmCham committee or recommend, in writing a member of their leadership team to sit on one. An alternate is also recommended, so that if the principal delegate cannot attend a committee meeting, the alternate maintains company representation. All committees require consistent monthly representation at meetings. The purpose of the committees is to encourage members to lend their voice to issues being addressed, and to get information back from AmCham for dissemination in your business. As such active participation is encouraged
  
  
• Communications Committee
  To provide in a timely manner key and quality information to AmCham members, to assure them a competitive edge in the global market. The Communications Committee is responsible for the publication of:
  • the AmCham Business Guide and Membership Directory
  • the quarterly trade publication- Linkage
  • the bi- weekly e- newsletter- Quik News Briefs
  • the AmCham Website- www.amchamtt.com


• Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Committee
  To provide direction and leadership and proactively promote environmental, safety, security and health values for the sustainable future of our companies, communities and nation.

• Legislative Committee
  To support the AmCham lobby effort by giving input on proposed legislation and providing summaries of recent legislation and communicating their business implications to the wider AmCham membership.

• Membership Committee
  To sustain and improve the image of AmCham as proactive, energetic and vibrant, by continuing to attract the highest quality members. To encourage existing members to participate in AmCham activities To be exemplary Ambassadors for AmCham

• Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)Committee
  To promote security cooperation and timely exchange of security information between the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. private sector To encourage American investment abroad by facilitating a dynamic exchange of information which can be used to make informed corporate decisions on how best to protect assets in an increasingly competitive and global economy To provide guidance for design and implementation of security programmes and plans for the benefit of the wider AmCham membership.
  
• Programmes and Events Committee
  To anticipate and facilitate the efforts of AmCham and its committees towards providing a diverse range of value-added programmes and events To promote and build business for member companies This committee coordinates monthly meetings, the Annual AmCham Citigroup Linkage Golf Tournament and the Annual U.S. Ambassador’s Reception for AmCham Members.

• Trade and Investment Committee
  To coordinate and monitor AmCham representation on external committees that work with the U.S. and T&T governments and other private sector organizations. To solicit input from AmCham member companies as feedback to local and regional trade negotiations To research, track and maintain current records of Trinidad and Tobago’s trade agenda as it relates to the U.S., specifically WTO, FTAA as well as other multi and bi- lateral trade agreements such as the CSME To monitor the trade and investment environment with a view to providing advance notice and support on issues that may affect the investment and business climate in Trinidad and Tobago; To plan, develop and participate in trade conferences, seminars, working groups and policy forums.

Our other Services/Benefits include:

• Free company profile in our publication: Business Guide to Trinidad & Tobago, which is updated every other year.
  
• Sponsorship opportunities at AmCham T&T events.
  
• Leveraging of our hemispheric network of (23) AmChams in (21) countries through AACCLA for member access opportunities.
  
• Free listing of your company’s information on our website: www.amchamtt.com, and link to your company’s website through your logo placement on same.

Access to Government

• Promotion of your views on key issues during our quarterly breakfast meetings with Cabinet Ministers and in the U.S. through our lobbying trips to Washington D.C.
  
• Representation on Government committees.
  
• Company / Industry Representation and input through committees.
  
• Use of AmCham’s involvement with other private sector business organizations, on issues of national importance

Business Information and Research

• Access to manufacturers or suppliers across the hemisphere.
  
• Updates on government tenders, important trade and business developments via our Quik News Brief e-newsletter.
  
• Information on Trade Shows and Conferences.

WE ARE HERE TO SERVE ALL YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS
CALL US TODAY TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP

SECRETARIAT CONTACT INFORMATION:
The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad & Tobago
Mailing Address: P.O. Bag 150, Newtown, Port of Spain, Trinidad, W.I.
Street Address: 62A Maraval Road, Newtown, Port of Spain, Trinidad, W.I.
Tel: (868) 622-0340/ 4466/ 628- 2508
Fax: (868) 628-9428
Executive Director- Desiree Gobin-Seecharan- execd@amchamtt.com
Trade and Communications – Melissa Pierre- trade@amchamtt.com
Member Services and Events – Sonelle Gibson-members@amchamtt.com
HSSE Officer - Céline Lestrade-committees@amchamtt.com
Visa and Administrative – Phyllis Johnson - inbox@amchamtt.com
Collections & Billing – Elizabeth Carmino - accounts@amchamtt.com
Website: www.amchamtt.com

Back to Homepage