Renewed Interest in Barbados for AmCham

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000049

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

EB/CBA FOR DENNIS WINSTEAD
DS FOR DS/DSS/OSAC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMCHAMS BEXP ECON ETRD EIND ASEC BB XL
SUBJECT: Renewed Interest in Barbados for AmCham


(U) 1. SUMMARY: Embassy Bridgetown on January 23 hosted a reception
for the American business community in Barbados to generate interest
in renewing an AMCHAM. 30 business people from a wide variety of
American owned companies, some big international firms such as FEDEX
and IBM, and some niche manufacturers, attended. The event, which
also explained the ACE awards and a briefing from the Regional
Security Officer (RSO) pertaining to the Overseas Security Advisory
Council (OSAC),sparked interest in jumpstarting the AmCham concept,
which had atrophied some years ago. As we move forward in Barbados,
we are planning similar events in the other EC countries we cover to
stimulate interest in AmChams there as well. End Summary


2. Embassy Bridgetown launched a regional AmCham for the Eastern
Caribbean in 2000. It was active until 2003 when it quit
functioning due to change in leadership of the organization and a
lack of commitment by the membership to make it a viable
organization. The AmCham formed in 2000 did not register with or
seek accreditation with the American Chamber of Commerce in
Washington, DC and thus was not an official AmCham. As a result of
this neglect, the Eastern Caribbean is the only significant economic
space in the region without an AmCham presence. Since the fall of
2007, we have been meeting with local American and Barbadian
business people to explore the possibility of reestablishing an
AmCham and to encourage them to formalize the registration process
with the U.S. Chamber.


3. There are some 60 American-owned companies in Barbados. These
firms run the entire gamut of industries, with banks, financial
service providers, accounting firms and the like being the most
common firm represented here. There are a number of American-owned
hotel chains in Barbados and several large scale American-owned
resorts are being developed. There are also a number of smaller,
niche manufacturers active in Barbados. There are a number of other
companies that would qualify for potential AMCHAM membership as they
are either managed by an American citizen or do a significant amount
of business with the United States, including significant U.S.
sourcing of their equipment.


4. Based on the interest shown in the prelaunch reception and on
conversations with local businesspeople, we are confident that an
AmCham can be successfully re-launched in the Eastern Caribbean. We
are working now with attendees from the January 23 event and others
who have expressed strong interest to encourage the selection of an
initial Board of Directors for a new AmCham. After the board is
selected and meets, we will be working with them to obtain formal
accreditation with the U.S. Chamber. We will also look for creative
ways to support and highlight their presence and activities, inter
alia by sending USG visitors to meet with them and serve as guest
speakers for AmCham-hosted events.


5. In addition, we are planning commercial outreach trips to each
of our other islands over the next six months. During these trips,
we will meet with the local American business community and
encourage them to form mini-AmChams in their respective countries.
Eventually, we would hope to see some formulation of a regional
AmCham as an umbrella organization with local chapters in each of
the countries we cover. So far, there has been interest expressed
in St. Kitts and Nevis and in Dominica for establishing some sort of
AmCham-type body.

OURISMAN