From a roundtable at the embassy to a seat at the Cabinet table.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan (AmCham) is the leading voice of the international and local business community in Kazakhstan. We provide a trusted platform where companies can exchange ideas, share expertise, and collaborate on the issues that shape the country’s economic future.
What the chamber is for
To be the voice of our members, so that they and Kazakhstan grow together
Founded in 1999 by thirty-five American companies, AmCham has grown into a dynamic and influential network of more than 100 member companies from around the world.
Our community is built on shared values: free enterprise, fair competition, and the rule of law, with a strong commitment to improving Kazakhstan’s investment climate. AmCham represents a proactive alliance that promotes open markets, supports regulatory progress, and strengthens dialogue between the private sector and government.
Support businesses in Kazakhstan that share our values through advocacy, networking, and services
amcham.kz/about-usHow the chamber is governed
Two year terms, elections each winter, votes counted at the Annual General Meeting.
AmCham Kazakhstan is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors elected by its members, plus a non-voting U.S. embassy representative. The Board guides AmCham’s strategy, review policy, and respond to business developments in Kazakhstan. Board members serve voluntarily, follow conflict of interest rules, and are elected for two-year terms. Elections are held each winter, with votes counted at the Annual General Meeting.
amcham.kz/about-us
The board as they publish it: four officers, three directors and the non-voting U.S. embassy representative. Their own sentence describes a nine member board and they print eight people, so eight is what is shown and no ninth name is supplied here.
The board, as they list it
Officers first, then directors, then the non-voting representative, in their own published order.
The secretariat
The secretariat, as their own team page publishes it. Nine people, each with the office printed beside their portrait, and no direct line for any of them because none is printed.
The history, as the chamber tells it
Thirteen dated entries, as their own history page tells them, with the photographs their page mounts against each. Nine of the thirteen sit behind a control the standard crawl never opened.
- Origins, pre 1998
AmCham Kazakhstan traces its origins to the U.S. Embassy’s Commercial Service in Almaty, which hosted monthly Business Roundtables. These informal events brought together American, international, and Kazakhstani business leaders to discuss political, economic, and commercial developments in the country.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell with AmCham President Courtney Fowler - 1998
As American business presence in Kazakhstan grew significantly, the need for a formal private-sector platform became clear. In response, AmCham was founded. A group of business leaders registered as a non-profit entity, drafted by-laws, and launched a membership campaign. Thirty-six companies joined as Charter Members.
Diana Brett, AmCham's first full-time Executive Director - 1999 to 2000
AmCham established its legal presence, launched official operations, and reached 59 member companies by the end of 1999. In 2000, the Chamber hosted a Business Roundtable with then-Prime Minister Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (now President of Kazakhstan), which positioned AmCham as a respected business institution.
Kassymzhomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan Prime Minister, at BRT in 2000 - 2002
AmCham launched Investors’ Voice, a flagship magazine that became financially self-sustaining and widely circulated among member companies, embassies, and government agencies.
First issue of Investor’s Voice, 2002 - 2003 to 2004
Membership continued to grow, reaching 161 companies by mid-2004. New working groups became a core platform for member engagement in Almaty, Astana, and Atyrau.
UNDP’s Resident Representative in Kazakhstan, Fikret Akcura at an AmCham event. - 2002
Doris Bradbury was appointed Executive Director. Under her leadership, the Chamber expanded its membership, launched the Awards Dinner, broadened Investors’ Voice, and strengthened partnerships with government and international organizations.
Doris Bradbury, Executive Director of AmCham, 2006 to 2024 - 2008 to 2010
AmCham launched the U.S. and Kazakhstan Public-Private Economic Partnership Initiative (PPEPI), supported by the U.S. State Department and USAID. Five policy-focused working groups were created, leading to White Papers and high-level dialogue with senior Kazakhstani officials.
Chamber Members enjoying the warm atmosphere of AmCham’s socials - 2010 to 2016
PPEPI was integrated into AmCham operations as the AmCham Economic Policy Program (AEPP), which became the Chamber’s central advocacy platform. AEPP included sectoral working groups, public roundtables, and close coordination with policymakers. The program concluded in 2016 as its key functions were absorbed into broader PM Council activities.
AmCham members engaging in policy dialogue as part of the Economic Policy Program (AEPP) - 2012 to ongoing
The Council to Improve the Investment Climate (PM Council) was launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Karim Massimov. AmCham was designated the sole private-sector representative. Council sessions brought together government ministers and member companies to address legal, regulatory, tax, and investment issues. Interministerial working groups were formed with the Ministries of Finance, Justice, Energy, Environment, and others.
AmCham President Kenneth Mack at the Prime Minister’s Council - 2013 to 2017
AmCham deepened its engagement with the Government of Kazakhstan through regular Cabinet-level discussions and follow-up consultations. Key focus areas included VAT refunds, licensing procedures, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, environmental regulation, and judicial reform.
AmCham in dialogue with the Government on regulatory and policy reform - 2014 to 2018
AmCham published two major Investment White Papers that significantly shaped policy dialogue: Improving Kazakhstan’s Investment Climate: Building a World-Class Healthcare System in Kazakhstan, and Improving Kazakhstan’s Investment Climate: Top 10 Barriers to Foreign Investment. Both were authored by Jeff Erlich.
AmCham Kazakhstan's White paper - 2020 to 2023
Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, AmCham remained fully engaged in its core operations, quickly adapting to virtual formats. The Chamber continued its active participation in the Prime Minister’s Council and ongoing policy consultations, and organized a series of advocacy webinars focused on Kazakhstan’s investment climate.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, AmCham continued its engagement with the Government through virtual PM Council meetings - 2024
Jeff Erlich succeeded Doris Bradbury as Executive Director. Under his leadership, AmCham introduced new internal practices to strengthen advocacy channels, improve member experience, and increase operational efficiency. The Chamber resumed a full schedule of offline events and reaffirmed its leadership role in Kazakhstan’s business landscape.
Jeff Erlich, Executive Director of AmCham Kazakhstan, 2024 to present
Governance documents
AmCham Kazakhstan is committed to transparency, accountability, and high standards of organizational governance. This section provides access to key documents that guide the Chamber’s operations and reflect its commitment to responsible management and member representation.
The documents themselves stay on their own site. amcham.kz/about-us
More than 100 member companies, and over 20 of the Fortune 500.
Founded in 1999 by thirty-five American companies, AmCham has grown into a dynamic and influential network of more than 100 member companies from around the world.