Annual Report 2016 | Page 11

ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTS AmCham’s advocacy activities are primarily initiated and carried out with the support of committees on Lawmaking & Enforcement; Fair Competition; and Community Engagement & Responsible Business Conduct. These committees consist of volunteers who donate their time and expertise to the Chamber. LAWMAKING & ENFORCEMENT  Surveyed members and sent position paper to Government officials, other business organizations & international community on Company Law Article 384  Published Spring magazine (Tax Clarity & Predictability) and Summer magazine (Inspections Reform)  Updated -Guide for foreign nationals working in Macedonia  Re-surveyed members on Financial Discipline Law effectiveness  Consolidated research on changes to key econ laws from 5 committee members, our staff & parliamentary archive  Researched amendments made to 20 key economic laws  Looked for 10 factors that impact regulatory confusion, public consultation, pace of change, including: FAIR COMPETITION  Survey conducted on improving consumer protection regulations  Contributed articles on “Grey Economy” in the AmCham magazine (winter issue)  Hosted visiting EU IP experts to guide Twinning Project at the State Office of Industrial Property COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS CONDUCT  Helped place 13 low income students in internships in member companies  Pivara & Motiva hosted training for “Open a Door” program applicants  Presentations on “How to write a good CV and interview without work experience” at UKIM Econ Faculty Career Center delivered by experienced professionals working in our member companies. The 2016 volunteers in this program included: - - Biljana Janeva, Partner sales executive - OEM distribution at Microsoft Macedonia Ana Saltirova Davidovski, HR Manager at Avto Moto Sojuz na Makedonija  CSR Program Design and Management presentation with Red Cross Macedonia  Thanksgiving promotion of “Think of Us” campaign - 20 members donated >13.000 EUR to support needy families for 246 months  CSR database launch (Over 200 CSR Projects/47 companies, Searchable data updated daily, Multiple Categories & Project Descriptions): 10 | AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN MACEDONIA □ 2016 ANNUAL REPORT