Dear AmCham Members, Partners and Friends,
As we all are quickly getting into the Fall season, we have a lot to talk about… so here goes!
This week we are delighted to be interviewing the Polish Ambassador and his family. Ambassador Wojtczak is the current longest serving, and therefore, dean of the diplomatic representatives accredited to Luxembourg. He, his wife and their daughter are three amazing people, honest, hard-working, ethically grounded, well respected and much loved, we thank them for their service and are pleased to have this opportunity to ask them questions to help you all in our audience know them, hear their story and understand what they believe and fight for. Please enjoy reading this interview!
Our peaceful Luxembourg is a reasonably safe island surrounded by a Europe and world facing many dangers and challenges. We compliment the current government for smartly acknowledging, understanding and paying attention to these dangers and challenges and for realistically taking steps to adjust the focus of policy and actions in an effort to address these challenges and ensure the long term safety and prosperity of this very special country. We are pleased to see the issues impacting the international and local business communities receiving increased attention, as well they should. Business success is absolutely vital to the success of Luxembourg. Without a strong economy, we do not have jobs to feed our families and we do not have the tax income to pay for the services we all have come to expect. It is comforting to see this current government understands the linkage between business prosperity and the maintenance of the high quality of life we want to maintain. It is likewise comforting to see this government appreciating and smartly engaging with its historic partners both locally within Europe and globally.
The three pillars allowing and guaranteeing Luxembourg’s economic prosperity, political and military stability, and democratic freedom come as a result of our commitment and active participation in the institutions and alliance of the European Union, NATO and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment partnership between the countries of Europe with the United States. At the end of the Second World War, the United States not only invaded and freed Luxembourg, it also encouraged the creation of the common defense mechanism of NATO and restored economic activity, rebuilding via the Marshall plan which brought Goodyear, Dupont and other big US industries into Luxembourg. Through the subsequent years, the United States and Luxembourg have stood together, always as partners, allies and friends to build the second largest financial sector on the planet and now going into space and embarking on digital transformation.
Every year the federation of American Chamber of Commerce in Europe publish an extensive analysis of Transatlantic Trade and Investment. Our own AmCham.lu is one of the seven AmChams in Europe who underwrite and pay for this annual study. On 27 November at 6 p.m. in the evening at Deloitte in Cloche d’Or, we will present and discuss the results of the 2024 Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment study. With special thanks to Deloitte for sponsoring this event, we urge you to register and join us to learn the details. This is a no-cost event. Please register (and bring your friends to hear and understand this story!). Please also look at the position paper “Doubling down on the transatlantic relationship” — written by our dear friends at AmCham EU about the critical importance of this economic alliance — in this Newsletter issue.
I was very strongly reminded of the strength of these economic, political and cultural ties connecting Luxembourg and the US together during my summer visit helping Geoff Thompson make his wonderful documentary about Luxembourg immigration to America (if you have not yet seen this documentary film, please look for it). Geoff has crafted a powerful story!
As mentioned last week we are putting together a series of three special topical events you should know about and join. Events during the next several months include low-cost business-related housing, special tips for your 2024 income taxes preparation, leadership and company culture; and we will do more in the Spring. At the end of the day, smart and effective leadership and management must take into consideration people issues and cultural considerations. Please sign up and join us for these public service events which are detailed in this Newsletter further below.
Thank you for your friendship and support of AmCham. We exist to serve you and others like you.
With respect and my kindest regards,
Paul Schonenberg
Chairman and CEO
AMCHAM.lu
