With this first issue of our e-magazine for 2024, let me wish all AmCham members a Happy New Year, and hope you have a healthy and prosperous 2024!
After a very productive year in 2023 in programs and in advocacy, and a banner year in membership, AmCham is ready for a full and exciting 2024. January will be very busy, highlighted by a Chairman’s Priorities Luncheon where our Chairman will lay out what he views as the Chamber’s priorities for 2024, and with the release of the Business Sentiments Survey. The survey results are being tabulated and summarized and analyzed right now, but I can tell you that while worries persist, the sentiment at least has stabilized and members are “staying put” in an uncertain environment. Stay tuned for both these activities at the end of this month.
2024 will also see the Chamber engaging more deeply with the US Government, with the HKSAR Government, and with the Central Government. It is vitally important for our members to have communication channels to all of the above parties in order to register suggestions and concerns, and AmCham aims to make sure these channels are available to our members. You will note that almost once a month we have some kind of members dialogue with HKSAR or USG officials. Of course, members also will be exposed to many programs addressing business issues challenging them in Hong Kong, and our committees will be actively trying to assist members either through programs or consultations with the HKSAR Government.
I should at this point ask you to be on the alert for participating in the 20th AmCham Women of Influence Summit & Awards Gala on March 8. Back in 2003, a group of far-sighted AmCham members launched this award, pioneering many of the notable Hong Kong efforts today to recognize and promote women’s accomplishments. We will use this year’s International Women’s Day to celebrate twenty years of AmCham leadership in this work.
Finally, this issue of e-Magazine again contains a fascinating group of articles and interviews. We have been averaging about 20,000 views per issue for the past 2 issues. We thank you for the enthusiastic response! And don’t forget, we welcome both article submissions and advertisements from readers for our e-Magazine. Enjoy!