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.
Founded in 1999 by thirty-five American companies, AmCham has grown into a dynamic and influential network of over 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.
Vision: To represent the interests of our members and support their growth alongside the growth of Kazakhstan.
Mission: To support businesses in Kazakhstan that uphold our values through effective advocacy, valuable networking, and practical services.
AmCham represents a proactive alliance that promotes open markets, supports regulatory progress, and strengthens dialogue between the private sector and government.
AmCham Kazakhstan is guided by a diverse and well-balanced Board of Directors elected by the Chamber’s membership. The Board includes nine representatives from corporate member companies and the AmCham Executive Director. It is led by a four-member Executive Committee consisting of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The U.S. Embassy’s Senior Commercial Officer serves as a non-voting observer.
The Board meets monthly to review AmCham’s operations, strategic priorities, and policy positions. These meetings provide a forum to assess economic and regulatory developments, discuss advocacy initiatives, and shape the Chamber’s direction in response to evolving business conditions in Kazakhstan.
Board members are active leaders within the Chamber and across Kazakhstan’s business community. They represent AmCham on high-level public-private platforms, most notably the Prime Minister’s Council to Improve the Investment
Climate, established fifteen years ago to ensure regular dialogue between the foreign business community and the Government of Kazakhstan. AmCham Board members also participate in other key forums such as the Foreign Investors’ Council, where they advise senior government officials on draft legislation and regulatory reforms. Beyond advocacy, Board members engage with educational institutions, cultural initiatives, and philanthropic efforts across the country.
All Board members serve on a volunteer basis and adhere to strict conflict of interest policies as outlined in the AmCham Bylaws. The Chamber maintains the highest ethical and professional standards in its governance practices.
The Board Nominations and Elections process is held annually during December and January, with results announced at the Annual General Meeting each January. Candidates are corporate leaders nominated from within the AmCham membership and are elected to staggered two-year terms.
Jeff Erlich
Gulzhan Bekbotayeva
Elzhana Oralgaziyeva
Zhanel Suleimenova
Ayana Mukhitova
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.
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.
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.
AmCham launched Investors’ Voice, a flagship magazine that became financially self-sustaining and widely circulated among member companies, embassies, and government agencies.
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 foundational document outlining AmCham’s structure, purpose, and decision-making processes.
The foundational document outlining AmCham’s structure, purpose, and decision-making processes.
The foundational document outlining AmCham’s structure, purpose, and decision-making processes.
The foundational document outlining AmCham’s structure, purpose, and decision-making processes.
The foundational document outlining AmCham’s structure, purpose, and decision-making processes.
The foundational document outlining AmCham’s structure, purpose, and decision-making processes.
You can apply directly through our website. Full details, including membership categories and requirements, are available in the Join Us section.
No. AmCham is an independent business association. Guided by our principle of free enterprise, we believe business and government should remain separate. While we collaborate with both the U.S. and Kazakhstani governments, our mission is to represent and advocate for the interests of businesses in Kazakhstan.
Yes. Any company operating in Kazakhstan that upholds our values of free enterprise, fair competition, and the rule of law, and successfully passes our due diligence process, is welcome to join.