American Chamber of Commerce in Macedonia
OTHER KEY ACTIVITIES
In addition to organizing events, supporting committee initiatives, overall communications
and organizing Board meetings, the Executive Office maintains relationships with other
AmChams in the region, the U.S. embassy in Macedonia and a variety of other institutions
and organizations. Below are some of the many activities undertaken during 2013 to foster
these relationships and increase the value AmCham Macedonia offers its members.
Customs Advisory Body Participation
Given that many of our member organizations depend on an efficient, fair and consistent
Customs Administration, AmCham continued in 2013 to take part in regular meetings of
the Customs Advisory Body. The meetings provide a venue to follow Customs plans and
activities as well as raise member concerns with regard to Customs policies and procedures.
Specifically this year, AmCham raised two concerns.
The first was with regard to the Adminstration’s approach to mandatory fines. In Macedonia,
harmless clerical errors – even those proactively identified by company employees –
are punished by mandatory fines. Toward changing this practice, AmCham provided an
analysis of U.S. Homeland Security practice for consideration and discussion by the group
and continues to raise this issue to relevant officials on a regular basis.
The second concern was with regard to the lack of coordination between Customs systems
and those of related institutions such as the Public Revenue Office. The current system
requires companies to continue paying taxes and fees at Customs, despite being owed a
refund from another office within the Ministry. AmCham argued that, were the Macedonian
Ministry of Finance to maintain consolidated records of its related activities carried out by the
Tax Authority and the Customs Administration, Customs could credit companies up to the
amount they are owed by the Tax Authority, rather than further damaging companies’ cash
flow by collecting additional funds. This year, Customs announced a new interface with the
Public Revenue Office, however, the tool appears to have been designed to meet a strictly
internal institutional need that will not yet relieve companies of the issues detailed above.
AmChams in Europe Transatlantic Summit
AmCham Macedonia’s Executive Over joined the 30 participants representing 28 AmChams
from across Europe and beyond in the 2013 annual AmChams in Europe Transatlantic
Conference. While in Washington, DC, ACE delegates attended a U.S. Chamber briefing
and lunch alongside business executives from the Business Coalition for Transatlantic Trade
(BCTT). A meeting with the U.S. State Department took place together with a roundtable
seminar with Kathleen Doherty, the European Bureau’s Deputy Assistant Secretary and
Bill Craft, the Economic Bureau’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and included
regional break-out sessions to discuss the importance and implications of the Transatlantic
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