AmCham celebrated a significant milestone at the end of May: the 50th anniversary of operations in the state of South Australia. To mark the occasion, Mrs Gina Rinehart, Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting Group, Roy Hill, S. Kidman & Co, gave a speech urging the Australian government to follow the US lead to cut corporate taxes, red tape, and regulations in order to boost Australian productivity and create new jobs and higher wages. Hundreds of AmCham members, guests, governors and directors joined Mrs Rinehart and other dignitaries at this Gala event. AmCham SA General Manager Robyn Houghton is to be commended on organising an exceptionally successful night for AmCham and the Adelaide business community.

Earlier that day, US Chargé d’Affaires a.i. James Carouso and I co-led a delegation of AmCham businesses and others to visit with the South Australian Premier; the Minister for Trade, Tourism, and Investment; and other members of the new SA government.
 

We also visited the old Royal Adelaide Hospital, the site of a new creation and innovation neighbourhood where more than 5000 people will work and stay. Members were invigorated to hear about the ways South Australia is striving to attract investment and create jobs. Chargé Carouso , Maureen Dougherty, and I also met with Shadow Foreign Minister Senator the Hon Penny Wong to discuss AmCham initiatives and our most recent research.

We are pleased to offer AmCham members access to opportunities like these. Please let me or your local General Manager know if there are officials you’d like AmCham to visit or places we should tour.

Over in Washington, DC, the US Government is gearing up for its annual mega investment summit, SelectUSA, which kicks off on 19 June.  Our delegation of 32 Australian business leaders is set to engage with the 3000+ individuals from international firms; SMEs; state, city and council economic development organisations; service providers such as lawyers and accountants; and US and foreign government officials who will attend the summit. It’s a terrific opportunity to speak to representatives from all 56 states and territories about what they can offer your business.

And next month, I’m leading a delegation on our annual Washington Doorknock. The program is looking great – trust me, you don’t want to miss this. We will spend a week in the nation’s capital meeting with senior Trump Administration officials, Congressional leaders, think tanks, the Australian embassy, and much more. We will be joined by delegates from AmChams around the Asia-Pacific, so you will get to make connections with business leaders from the region, as well as Washington officials. Some of the topics we will discuss include: trade agreements, US-China relations, expanded markets for American farmers, safeguarding the digital economy and the free flow of data, supporting increased market access for financial services, strengthening IP rights protection, transparency and anti-corruption frameworks, and territorial tax treatment for American individuals overseas.

I’m also looking forward to leading a one-time special delegation of AmCham members to Papua New Guinea in early August for a pre-APEC business familiarisation tour. This will be the ultimate in access to opportunity, and there are only a couple of spots left, so please get in touch immediately if you or a colleague wants to join me, the US Ambassador and the head of the US Commercial Service in Australia for a unique and timely visit.

As always, I welcome your thoughts, suggestions, compliments or critiques. I look forward to seeing many of you over the next month.