AMCHAM-CI: GENERAL MEETING 2022

AmCham-CI organized a general meeting on January 27, 2021 at Movenpick Hotel. This meeting was an opportunity for the AmCham team to present the results of 2021 as well as the guidelines for the year 2022.

The President of AmCham-CI, Mr. Yohannes MEKBEBE, gave an update on the actions of the American Chamber of Commerce in Côte d’Ivoire during the year 2021.

According to Mr. Yohannes MEKBEBE, this year was rich in activities while raising the organization of the “Town Hall” with the US Embassy and the meet work on digital issues.

The Chamber also presented the evolution of the Chamber through the number of members since taking office and revenues which have increased considerably.

For this new year, President Yohannes MEKBEBE and his team intend to intensify their actions through the various committees set up within the organization. In particular, the Digital and Technological Committee, the Industrial Committee and the Agriculture Committee.

AmCham-CI deployed the action plan to optimize the private sector and have a substantial footprint in the economic development of Côte d’Ivoire. The president also wanted Côte d’Ivoire to become a development partner of the United States.

The Chamber’s sustainability action plan is based on 3 steps:

• The Committees: Our committees are the impetus for the defense of our members’ commercial interests. Committees are the driving force behind the new system we want to put in place. Committees give the board of directors the opportunity to have a list of active members who can be considered potential members of the board of directors of the chamber. It is a question of generating real enthusiasm within our various committees. Committees are responsible for providing advice in areas such as laws, regulations, taxation, labor market challenges and bringing our members’ concerns to the attention of the appropriate bodies. Committee members will be required to meet once every 2 months and organize 3 events during the year. Sponsorship opportunities will be available to members to conduct the activities of our committees. The committee acts as an incubator.
• The board of directors: The Board of Directors is responsible for protecting the interests of the Chamber, establishing management policies, overseeing the organization, and making decisions on important issues facing our organization.

The board is divided into two sections: the Strategic Board and the working Board

– The mission of the Strategic Board is to exercise the strategic, financial and operational functions of the Chamber. The members of this board have partial involvement.

– The Working Board is tasked not only to perform fiduciary and strategic functions, but also to partner with staff to perform more technical management functions. Working board members must therefore be fully involved in the activities of the Chamber.

• Executive Committee: The Executive Committee is composed of elected members of the Board of Directors, which acts as the Steering Committee for the entire Board. Its main objective is to facilitate decision-making between board members in the event of a crisis or emergency. This committee is responsible for overseeing the policies of the Board of Directors and ensuring compliance with good governance practices. The executive committee’s mission is to monitor the action of the board of directors.

 Finally, the president invited all members to get involved in the development of the chamber by explaining a statement influenced by former U.S. President JF Kennedy: Ask not what Amcham can do for you, but what you can do for AmCham.

The presentation concluded with a series of questions and answers before meeting around a networking cocktail. Thank you to all those who participated in this brilliant event. The best is yet to come