American Chamber of Commerce in Russia (AmCham Russia, Russian: Американская торговая палата в России) is a non-government, non-for-profit, corporate-membership business association. Incorporated in the U.S., affiliated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC), operates in Russia as a Representative Office accredited by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation. Member of the European Council of American Chambers of Commerce (ECACC).
As the USSR unraveled in 1991, a group of American businessmen informally created the American Business Club (ABC) to unite the American business community in Russia and aid each other in working towards common goals. In the summer of 1993, the ABC applied to the USCC to formally open a chamber in Russia. On Jan. 13, 1994, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Lloyd Bentsen and U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher were present at the official launch in Moscow of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia.
Since then, the Chamber’s membership has grown over 600 percent, currently topping 800 corporate member companies. In 1997, responding to the growing presence of foreign investors in Northwest Russia, a chapter in St. Petersburg (AmCham St. Petersburg) was established, currently numbering 160 members. Sharing the Chamber’s goals and values, non-American companies join it, turning the Chamber an influential international organization.
AmCham’s backbone are its industry- and issue-specific committees composed of member companies’ delegated representatives and headed by elected chairs (co-chairs).
AmCham Russia’s Committees:
AmCham St. Petersburg Committees: