couv amcham.indd - The American Chamber of Commerce

Transcription

News Magazine
Spring 2005
AMCHAM Members
Support Charity
Sri Lankan
Honorary Consul
Ranjit de Alwis on his
Tsunami Experience
U.S. Under Secretary
of International Trade
Visits Luxembourg
The AmChamLux News Magazine
The American Chamber of Commerce in Luxembourg a.s.b.l.
6, rue Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
B.P. 542
L-1432 Luxembourg
Phone: (+352) 43 17 56
Fax: (+352) 26 09 47 04
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.amcham.lu
Chairman and CEO:
Paul-Michael Schonenberg
Please Note:
The American Chamber of Commerce in
Luxembourg does not necessarily endorse
the views or opinions expressed in this
periodical nor accept any responsibility in
connection with information rendered.
Copyright ©2005
The American Chamber of Commerce
in Luxembourg
No part of this publication may be
reproduced without written permission
from the American Chamber of Commerce
in Luxembourg.
All editorial materials and advertising
inquiries should be addressed to the
Chamber at the above address.
The American Chamber of Commerce in
Luxembourg ASBL is an international
voluntary organization of business persons
committed to fostering bilateral trade and
investment between the United States and
Luxembourg.
C H A R T E R E D
Layout Conception:
Carol Kieffer ✝
Printer/Publisher:
Marianne Aufroy, Rapidpress
A M C H A M L U X
Editorial Committee:
Tatjana Basilio-Schaefer
Paul-Michael Schonenberg
Ian Whitecourt
M E M B E R S
Marketing Director:
Margot Parra
ALFI
ALLIED ARTHUR PIERRE
ALTER DOMUS
ARENDT & MEDERNACH
BDO COMPAGNIE FIDUCIAIRE
CLEARSTREAM INTERNATIONAL
DECHERT LUXEMBOURG
DELOITTE
DELPHI CORPORATION
DEXIA BANQUE INTERNATIONALE A LUXEMBOURG
DUPONT DE NEMOURS (LUXEMBOURG)
ERNST & YOUNG
EUROPEAN FUND ADMINISTRATION
EUROPEAN RELOCATION SERVICES
EUROSCRIPT LUXEMBOURG
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS
GOODYEAR
GUARDIAN EUROPE
KNEIP COMMUNICATION
KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL
KPMG
LOYENS & LOEFF
MCKINSEY & COMPANY, LUXEMBOURG
MEES PIERSON INTERTRUST (LUXEMBOURG)
ORACLE
P & T LUXEMBOURG
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS
ROWLANDS INTERNATIONAL
SEB PRIVATE BANK LUXEMBOURG
SETTLER INTERNATIONAL LUXEMBOURG
STATE STREET BANK (LUXEMBOURG)
STREFF REMOVALS & STORAGE
TYCO INTERNATIONAL
2
■ AMCHAM Spring 2005
Contents
Editorial
Interview
➠ Chairman’s Remarks ..............................3
➠ Martine Schommer
Member Spotlight
➠ Sheraton Luxembourg ............................4
➠ Key Inn Appart Office ..............................6
New Members
➠ New Members Approved by
the Executive Committee ........................7
Special Feature
➠ South East Asian Tsunami:
a Life Changing Experience ....................9
➠ Flood Disaster: LAR-Crew
Arrive Back from the Crisis Area ..........11
➠ Cargolux: Spontaneous Help
for Tsunami Victims ..............................12
➠ Into the New Year at ISL ........................13
➠ State Street Supports Global
Issues at ISL ..........................................18
Permanent Representative of
Luxembourg in Brussels ......................24
Information Toolbox
➠ Economic Outlook for
the European Union in 2005 ..................26
AMCHAM Committees
➠ ComIT ....................................................27
➠ Tax and Fiscal Affairs Committee ........27
➠ HR Committee ......................................28
➠ FinCom ..................................................28
Community News
➠ In Memoriam:
U.S. Embassy
c o n t e n t s
➠ Luxembourg’s EU Presidency ..............19
U.S. News
➠ Luxembourg Visit of U.S. Under
Richard G. Blacklin................................29
➠ Investor Trip to Florida ..........................29
➠ Democrats Abroad in Luxembourg ......30
➠ Republicans Abroad in Luxembourg ....30
Secretary for International Trade..........20
➠ Business Abstract
Across the Atlantic ................................21
Useful Links
......................................31
Advertising
........................................32
➠ KPMG and AMCHAM Promote
Luxembourg in New York with
Artistic Flair ..........................................23
3
San Francisco for display coinciding
with a visit to Silicon Valley by
Minister Jeannot Krecké and
Minister Jean-Louis Schiltz. Thanks
Toni for this great success.
Chairman’s Remarks
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Welcome to the Spring issue of the
AMCHAM News Magazine! Your
American Chamber of Commerce
has been quite busy over the past
several months and I am pleased to
have this opportunity to give you an
update.
e d i t o r i a l
First on infrastructure. We have
expanded our offices in the
Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce
effectively doubling in size. This
expanded space gives us the capacity
to have additional work space (which
we desperately needed), room to
hold small meetings in house, and
makes for a much better working
environment. Stop by and visit...you
will be impressed! In addition to the
expanded space, you will find that we
have three people working in the
office. Dilek Ayaydin has joined our
team as the Office Manager while
Tatjana has moved into expanded
responsibilities as the Communications Director with the task to further expand and improve our News
Magazine and the AMCHAM website.
As you can see from the new cover
and the quality of content in this
magazine you are receiving today,
Tatjana has already started taking
this publication to a new level.
Through all of this Margot continues
her work as the Marketing Director
and with the support of her two
colleagues will be able to expand her
activities as well.
Also concerning internal activities,
we have just completed our annual
Board of Directors meeting, program
review process and the Annual
General meeting. I am pleased to
report that our auditors have given
our 2004 finances a clean review
indicating that we are financially
solvent and continuing in our best
practices of lean management to
make sure we get the very best
possible value out of the resources
that our members make available to
us. During this process also, the
Board of Directors and members
have reconfirmed their support for
direction/policies and practices of
the Chamber and reelected the
current members of the Executive
Committee for another year’s term in
office. As your Chairman and CEO,
I thank you all for your endorsement
and support and express my appreciation
to Ian Whitecourt, our Vice Chairman,
Guy Hornick, our Treasurer, and
François Kremer, our Secretary for
their continued commitment and
devotion to make your Chamber such
a successful and respected voice for
the international business community
in Luxembourg.
I am pleased to report as well, that
the committees continue to thrive
and grow, expanding their activities
to meet the needs and expectations
of the members. My thanks to the
Chairpersons and the teams which
comprise FINCOM, the MBC, the
HR Committee, ComIT, ABAL, and
the Tax & Fiscal Affairs Committee
for their passion, intellectual excellence and just plain hard work. My
personal and professional thanks to
Marios Paras who is stepping down
because of expanded business commitments after several years leading
our highly successful HR Committee.
Marios, we have appreciated your
leadership, innovation and skill...thank
you for all your contributions...
and thanks for continuing to be part
of the expanded Chairmen’s Meeting
Group. A warm welcome to Bernhard
Dedenbach who has agreed to
replace Marios as the head of the
HR Committee.
I want to pay particular homage
to our tireless U.S. Representative,
Toni Dudsak, for her superb management of the U.S. tour of our corporate
“Business Abstract” Collection.
Please see the enclosed article and
pictures which charts the progress of
the art over the past year as it went
on display first at the renovated
Luxembourg Embassy in Washington D.C.
coinciding with the visit of HRH the
Grand Duke this past September,
then to New York for display at the
Luxembourg House and finally to
As we move forward we are further
strengthening our partnership with
the Luxembourg Government, the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the
American Chamber of Commerce for
the EU and various entities of interest
to us within the U.S. Government.
Our strategy is first to be a friend and
ally with something to give to them
thereby increasing our respect and
credibility in their eyes... and then to
transform that credibility into
expanded access and influence. For
those of you who were able to attend
our breakfast meeting with the
U.S. Under Secretary for International
Trade, Grant Aldonas, you will have
noticed that we are clearly moving in
the right direction with the right
strategy.
You will see in this magazine issue
an increased focus on charitable
activities. We will continue without let
up supporting the economic growth,
development and success of our
members....but for what end? Profits
are very good...but our members
realize that the use of some of those
profits to do good...to make a better
world...to alleviate suffering and
want...those are commendable activities as well. We wish to honor and
support those efforts and are
pleased to report on what some of
our members have done and are
doing. We acknowledge as well that
there is currently an urgent need for
help rebuilding after the Tsunami in
Asia. Luxembourg Air Rescue and
Cargolux, among others, have done
much in this area but there is more
to be done.
One commendable effort we support
is the rebuilding effort undertaken by
the Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in
Luxembourg, Ranjit de Alwis, to build
200 homes in the worst hit area of
Sri Lanka. Please see his article in
this issue and do what you can to
help.
Have a great spring! Join us and
work with us and have fun at our
events! And let us know whenever
you have any issues where we can
help.
With my best regards,
4
Sheraton Luxembourg Aerogolf Hotel
New design and homey
ambiance - the Sheraton
Luxembourg Aerogolf Hotel
will present itself as a new
product as of April 2005.
The restaurant is open daily
from 6:30 to 23:00, offering a
large and delicious breakfast
buffet in the morning and
modern light food for lunch
and dinner. Food festivals are
organised throughout the
year, and at the Sunday
Brunch guests are invited to
choose from a mouthwatering selection of the
finest cuisine which will spoil
the whole family.
m e m b e r
s p o t l i g h t
Following the complete refurbishment of the 148 guest
rooms in 2003, the new
“SIGNATURE”
Restaurant
opened its doors last December.
The former “Le Green”
Restaurant was transformed
into two new function rooms,
“Senningen“ & “Bourscheid”.
The opening of the new
“Crossroad Bar & Bistro“ is
scheduled for mid March.
Further the front desk and
lobby area will receive a new
design, and a new “break-out
room Schengen” will be available.
”SIGNATURE” is a light and
friendly restaurant, hosting up
to 70 guests. The homey
ambience is highlighted by
cosy seating areas with bookshelves and a fire place, inviting the guest to take an
apéritif or relax with a cup of
coffee and a newspaper.
The hotel’s General Manager
Sissi E. Nobel emphasizes
that the entire new concept is
the result of an enormous
team work. The whole
Sheraton Luxembourg team
has
contributed
creative
ideas, based on guest feedback and analysis of trends.
Executive Chef Hervé Ciufoletti
developed a new food concept for the ”SIGNATURE”,
supported by a research
conducted by the hotel’s
Food & Beverage Team.
“Treat your body as a temple
and no longer as a garbage
bin”, was one of the key
messages. This not only re-
presents the overall understanding of today’s life style
but is also valid for the latest
food trends. The new light and
innovative
cuisine
offers
dishes influenced by international recipes. Some dishes
are also served in half portions, offering the guests the
possibility to combine for
example two half portions of a
starter and main dish. The
menu contains in addition
vegetarian and organic specialities. The guests may
choose from the selection
“Wines of the World” to enjoy
along with their meal, served
by the glass or bottle.
The design details in the
“SIGNATURE” show that it
was important for the hotel
team to participate actively
in the creation process:
personalized china ware and
contemporary uniforms were
created.
“Think global, act local”, is
the motto of the Starwood
company and Sheraton brand.
Sheraton Luxembourg is and
always will be part of the
Luxembourgish community.
For Acting Director of Sales
Joachim Freche it is important
to continue focusing on local
and international guests, and to
include the “18+ customers”
and the “8+ decision makers”
in this concept. The values of
the Sheraton brand are one of
the bases for the ambience
and service at the Sheraton
Luxembourg as well: “genuine,
cosy, warm and worldly”.
The new “Crossroad Bar &
Bistro“ will serve as a bar and
bistro at the same time. With
a total capacity of 100 seats,
30 seats around the bar
counter and 70 seats with
tables, the guests may enjoy
new innovative and light fast
5
food. Equipped with modern
seating areas and a huge
glass
bar
counter
the
“Crossroad Bar & Bistro“ will
be the place to meet, drink
and eat in a cosy atmosphere.
m e m b e r
s p o t l i g h t
Integrated into this new concept the “Crossroad Take
Away” corner will offer a wide
selection to our guests: you
can choose between hot and
cold drinks, coffees, sandwiches, salads, soups, hot
snacks, pastry, fruit salad,
sweets and more–for “people
on the move” during busy
office hours.
Guests are invited to end their
days in the bar, enjoying live
piano entertainment with
Janos in the evening. The new
TV corner (broadcasting international channels) assures
that the guests stay well
informed.
and 180 for receptions, ideal
for conferences, banquets
with dance floors, receptions
and special private functions.
All rooms provide natural
light and are equipped with
all technical details for a
successful event.
The capacity for meetings and
events has been completed by
the newly renovated rooms
“Senningen“ & “Bourscheid”.
The large meeting room can
be divided into two parts by a
state of the art dividing wall,
sound proof up to 45 dB, thus
offering a good sound protection.
Another special niche service
of the Sheraton Luxembourg
Aerogolf Hotel is the catering
service for events of up to
2.500 people at the location of
the guest’s choice. Event
organizers can select among
preferred locations, such as
the “Caves Bernard Massard”
in
Grevenmacher,
the
“Château de Bourscheid”, or
the beautiful grounds of the
SOS Kannerduerf in Mersch
as the perfect venue for a
summer party.
The Sheraton Luxembourg
Aerogolf Hotel now offers 7
meeting rooms with a capacity
of 120 guests for banquets
The complete refurbishment
of the Sheraton Luxembourg
Aerogolf Hotel has been
realized in cooperation with
Living Design AB Sweden and
using the professional experience of the whole hotel
team. The new areas are
designed in warm colours,
using materials of high quality,
such as natural mahagony
wood, brushed stainless steel
and plain suede, going along
with the Sheraton brand
values.
“We have developed a new
concept to welcome our
guests in an even more
distinctive environment, which
will be beyond everybody’s
expectations”, reveals General
Manager, Sissi E. Nobel.
“We are convinced that our
guests will feel how proud the
whole Sheraton Luxembourg
team is to present this new
product!”
Contact Details:
Sheraton Luxembourg
Aerogolf Hotel
Route de Trèves
L-2633 Senningerberg
(Luxembourg Findel Airport)
Phone: (+352) 340 571
Fax: (+352) 340 217
E-mail:
sheraton.luxembourg@
sheraton.com
Websites:
www.sheraton.com
www.sheraton.lu
Dorothea Núñez Leguizamón
Marketing Executive
6
duration of the stay, which
offers excellent value for
money.
Each studio is equipped with
a DSL Internet connection
and a flat screen TV which
can be connected to a computer and used for presentations.
Key Inn Appart-Office
Key Inn Appart-Office offers
high quality furnished studios,
ranging from 25 to 55 m2,
which can be used according
to the client’s wishes as an
apartment, office, meeting
room or for private or professional receptions.
Each studio is equipped with
modular furniture specially
designed to allow such flexible
use together with a discreet,
but well equipped, kitchenette.
m e m b e r
s p o t l i g h t
This concept is unique
in Luxembourg and is ideal
for
professional
visitors,
consultants, managers
tourists wishing to:
or
• work and/or live in a single,
functional, elegant and central location
• have more room and independence
• meet with clients, colleagues or friends
• make use of a range of certain services.
The studios may be rented on a
short, medium or long term
basis with a reducing price
scale, depending on the
Key Inn offers a unique, flexible and user-friendly solution
in a contemporary and functional setting in three completely renovated old mansions next to the city center.
Contact Details:
42, rue Albert 1er
L-1117 Luxembourg
Phone: (+352) 27 61 61 1
Fax: (+352) 26 38 95 43
Website: www.key-inn.com
Valérie Allen
Directeur-Général
AmCham is Pleased to Introduce New Members Approved by the Executive Committee
7
➠
American-European Insurance Brokerage, SA (AEI)
Founded in Germany in 1965, American-European Insurance has been
Representative: Jan Hudson
brokering U.S. compliant life insurance in Europe for the past 40 years.
Title: Managing Director
208, Val des Bons Malades
L-2121 Luxembourg
Phone:(+352) 26 43 18 40
Fax: (+352) 26 43 18 91
Website : www.aei.lu
➠
AEI also brokers U.S. compliant PPLI – Private Placement Life Insurance
products for both U.S. domestic and U.S. offshore insurers. Minimum
PPLI premium consideration is USD 500,000.
Representative: Georges Muller
Title: Marketing Manager
Cegecom is the alternative telecommunications operator in Luxembourg.
We offer leased lines, telephony, Internet access, Housing and Hosting to
international carrier, firms and residential customers.
3, rue Jean Piret
L-2350 Luxembourg
B.P. 2708
L-1027 Luxembourg
We hold an A license and run our own fiber optic network, Wireless Local
Loop, WLAN and DSL network. Cegecom is owned by Cegedel; the main
power supplier in Luxembourg.
Phone:(+352) 26 499-1
Fax: (+352) 26 499-699
Cegecom’s philosophy is to continuously listen to our customers. Only by
responding to your needs can we fully appreciate and anticipate what
those needs are. Together, through a process of dialogue, we will tailor
our services to your needs. We dedicate ourselves to ensure that all
services we offer are of the highest possible quality.
Website:www.cegecom.lu
➠
Husky Injection Molding Systems S.A.
Hot Runner & Mold
Z.I. Riedgen
B.P. 231
L-3403 Dudelange
Phone:(+352) 52 115-1
Fax: (+352) 52 115 46 61
m e m b e r s
AEI is authorized throughout Europe and in the U.S. to broker all forms of
insurance, but specializes in protection (risk/term) life insurance in
amounts from USD 1,000,000 to USD 40,000,000, primarily for estate and
inheritance planning situations. We have also been successful in obtaining coverage for insured’s with medical impairments up to age 81.
Cegecom S.A.
Representative: Dimitri Ronsse
Title: Human Resources
Director Europe
n e w
AEI specializes in brokering the products of US life companies rated AA &
AAA to high net worth Europeans and U.S. Expatriates throughout
Europe. We have over USD 3,000,000,000 of life insurance in force in
Europe.
Website:www.husky.ca
Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. is a leading supplier of injection
molding equipment and services to the plastics industry. We design and
manufacture the industry’s most comprehensive range of injection
molding equipment, including machines, molds, hot runners and robots.
In addition, our value-added services include factory planning, customer
training and systems integration.
In fiscal 2004, sales were USD 774 million, with approximately 3,000
people employed worldwide.
Husky has more than 40 Service and Sales offices -including 19 Technical
Centers- supporting customers in over 100 countries. Manufacturing
facilities are located on campuses in Canada, the United States,
Luxembourg and China. Our core values - a passion for excellence, bold
goals, proactive environmental responsibility, making a contribution and
uncompromising honesty - are the foundation of our business practices
worldwide. They are integral to everything we do and define who we are
as a company.
➠
Representative: Valérie Allen
Title: Directeur Général
42, rue Albert 1er
L–1117 Luxembourg
Phone:(+352) 27 61 61 1
Fax: (+352) 26 38 95 43
Website: www.key-inn.com
Key Inn Appart-Office offers high quality furnished studios, from 25m2 to
55m2, which can be used according to the client’s wishes as an apartment, office, meeting room or for private or professional receptions.
The studios can be rented on a short, medium or long term basis with a
reducing price scale, depending on the duration of the stay, which offers
excellent value for money.
Key Inn offers a unique, flexible and user-friendly solution in a contemporary and functional setting in three completely renovated old mansions
next to the city center.
AmCham is Pleased to Introduce New Members Approved by the Executive Committee
8
➠
P&T Luxembourg
Representative: Marcel Gross
Title: CEO
8a, avenue Monterey
L-2020 Luxembourg
With its 108 post offices, postshops (the most important of which also
sell telecom services) and 5 telecom shops, P&T has a high customer
proximity. With its lean and easily manageable size, P&T Luxembourg
serves private customers as well as business customers including international companies. P&T Luxembourg also offers a wide range of
financial services (Western Union) as well as its e-banking solution CCP
Connect. In 2003, P&T Luxembourg reached a total revenue of
EUR 505,1 million.
Phone:(+352) 47 65-1
Fax: (+352) 22 62 35
Website:www.ept.lu
➠
For additional information on P&T Luxembourg please contact
Mr. Olivier Mores, Head of Communication, at [email protected] or turn to
the P&T website at www.ept.lu.
RT-Log S.A. Retail - Transport - Logistics
Representative: Robert Thiemann
Title: Managing Director
RT-Log, which stands for Retail – Transport –Logistics, provides flexible
offsite storage and replenishment support to the Retail sector and shopping centres.
34, Parc d’Activités Syrdall
L-5365 Munsbach
Merchandise is delivered directly from suppliers to RT-Log, which cross
check the delivery with the original order details, checking ean-code,
quality, quantity and deadline. Stores, picks, consolidates and delivers
merchandise to Retail shop as requested, all under the surveillance of
our WMS (Warehouse management system). Enabling in-store stockholdings and ‘back of house’ activity to be reduced, so that the space,
time and energy released can be invested in serving potential customers
and consumers in the shop.
Phone:(+352) 26 34 62-1
Fax: (+352) 36 34 62-2
Website:www.rt-log.com
➠
Retailers and Suppliers to the retail sector welcome this support, complemented through Freightmanagement, Warehousing, Pick and Pack,
and Supply Chain Management services.
SD WORX S.A.
Representative: Olivier Noblot
Title: General Manager
89F Pafebruch,
Parc d’Activités Capellen
B.P. 1
L-8301 Capellen
m e m b e r s
Phone:(+352) 269 29-1
Fax: (+352) 269 29 3206
n e w
Founded in 1842, P&T Luxembourg is a public service company since
1992. With its 2.700 employees, P&T operates postal, financial and
telecommunications services. P&T Luxembourg is the leading provider of
postal and telecommunication services in Luxembourg.
Website: www.sdworx.lu
SD WORX SA is an international provider of payroll management services
and is therefore the ideal partner to assist its clients with a practical
approach to the daily Human Resources administration in the following
matters:
• Payroll: Management of the global process of the salary calculation and
payment
• Social and tax: Management of the returns and link to the tax and social
security administration
• Legal assistance: Labour law, social security and salary tax
• Ad Hoc representation in the framework of the European legal
provisions for employee’s secondment
• On-site: Temporary replacement of one of your employees or in relation
with the outsourcing of the Human Resources
• Training: In our premises or on-site, tailored to the specific needs of
our clients, also in collaboration with IFBL, Chambre des Métiers
• System integration: implementation and integration of HR management
and payroll systems
For membership details please contact our office at
Phone: (+352) 43 17 56 / Fax: (+352) 26 09 47 04
E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]
Website: www.amcham.lu
9
South East Asian Tsunami a Life Changing Experience
Participants at the March ABAL
Luncheon were deeply touched
by the account Ranjit de Alwis,
Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka
gave of his experience during
the Tsunami disaster that
struck South-East Asia in
December 2004.
s p e c i a l
f e a t u r e
His family had gathered near
Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo
preparing for a happy event
that was to take place on
December 29, 2004: Ranjit’s
daughter Sharon was bound
to get married that day. On
the morning of December 26,
Ranjit got ready to pick up
long-time friends who were
arriving from France in order
to attend the wedding. He was
wondering whether to use his
Mercedes limousine or his
4x4 and opted for the latter;
this choice and the fact that
the flight was half an hour
delayed were to save his and
his friends lives just a few
hours later…
As they were cruising along the
coastline between Colombo
and Galle enjoying the beautiful surroundings they suddenly noticed something very
bizarre: Out on the ocean a
black wall of water appeared,
forming a wave of 20 meters
height. When they began to
realize that they were in acute
danger, Ranjit’s driver headed
inland thus trying to escape
the water masses that were
hitting the shoreline. As the
Tsunami rolled in at a bend,
they gained time to escape via
the open fields. When Ranjit
looked back he saw a local
bus that had impatiently overtaken his car only a few
moments before, carried
away on the top of the
Tsunami wave.
Never having feared anything
in his life, Ranjit now was
overwhelmed by fear as they
were scrambling to escape
the Tsunami.
As they were driving, local
people were clinging on to his
4x4, but as the water around
them was constantly rising
there was no way of stopping
to let them get into the car.
One particularly chilling experience was that of an elderly
man grasping on to the wing
mirror, pleading for his life
just by the mere expression
on his face. When ultimately
he was at the end of his
strength and had to let go, he
was swept away by the water
and drowned.
Having barely escaped the
Tsunami and experiencing
the despair it had caused,
changed Ranjit de Alwis’s life
completely. The extent of
devastation was way beyond
what the media could transmit; when Ranjit drove across
the country after the disaster
in order to evaluate what he
could do to aid the victims, it
became apparent that behind
all the devastating figures
lay deeply moving individual
destinies.
A formerly successful business man whom he encountered had not only lost all of
his business but his entire
family including his sister, his
wife and his seven children.
When Ranjit returned two
days later, the gentleman had
put an end to his life… At
another occasion he tried to
speak with local women who
after losing all their belongings had found a provisional
shelter at a temple, but
whenever Ranjit approached
them, they would shy away
from him and hide. He then
realized that they were so
ashamed of their appearance
that they did not want to be
seen.
The relief efforts offered by
several international NonGovernmental Organizations
(NGOs) were to be considered
inadequate; for one a large
part of the efforts didn’t reach
the local population and secondly many of the items at
disposal were not what was
truly required.
10
Witnessing the unsatisfactory
relief efforts offered by
Sri Lankan authorities and
international NGOs triggered
the wish to become active in
helping the Tsunami victims.
As a result Ranjit established
the Sri Lanka Tsunami Relief
Fund in Luxembourg and the
Kosgoda
Tsunami
Relief
Project. Meanwhile his son
Sanji has quit his well-paid
job in London to invest a year
of his life to oversee the
progress of the relief project
in Sri Lanka.
•
The project aims at rebuilding
the lives of the people of
Kosgoda – one of the worst
affected areas in Sri Lanka –
returning them not just to
their previous status, but to
provide an opportunity for
these people to help themselves and strive to achieve a
higher standard of living.
Housing:
Construction of houses will
be broken down into
4 phases spanning approximately 1 2 - 1 8
months
(February 2005 – June 2006).
Phase 1 started at the
beginning of February 2005,
and will provide housing
for up to 30 families.
Houses will be constructed
according to architectural
plans providing basic robust
accommodation and will
allow for easy expansion,
giving families an incentive
to improve their dwellings
in the future. A basic house,
with running water, electricity and sewage system will
cost in the region of
Rs. 450,000 (approximately
USD 4500).
The project will focus on three
areas of redevelopment in
Kosgoda:
s p e c i a l
f e a t u r e
1.Construction of houses for
families who have lost their
homes (approximately 200
houses in total).
•
2.Construction of tube wells
to provide fresh, drinkable
water to the majority of
Kosgoda residents.
3.Provision of educational
facilities, aside from schools,
to promote learning English
and computer skills.
The Kosgoda Tsunami Relief
Project is focused on providing the following aid to the
people of Kosgoda:
•
Immediate Provisions:
Food, water, clothes and
tents for temporary shelter
will be provided to families
for immediate relief.
•
Drinking water:
Tube wells will be constructed in elevated areas of
Kosgoda to allow fresh
water to be pumped into
tanks that will be connected
to the main water piping
system. Areas into which
the existing water piping
system does not reach,
water piping will be laid and
connected to the existing
system, or taps will be
installed for the provision of
fresh water.
Educational facilities:
The set up of learning centers, aside from schools, to
provide a means for children of all ages to learn
English
and
computer
skills. Children will be able
to enroll in free classes to
learn the skills that are
imperative to gain more
lucrative employment in
Sri Lanka, or even overseas.
In Luxembourg the project
has found support from the
Luxembourg Central Bank;
Governor Yves Mersch and his
staff raised EUR 25,000 in
donations. As all proceeds
will go directly to the victims,
the Governor is highly convinced of the value of this project, is therefore personally
involved and will travel to
Sri Lanka to monitor the
progress.
The Tsunami experience has
altered Ranjit de Alwis’s
approach towards life through
and through; previously he
regarded success as something that could be measured
in monetary terms; today,
however his definition has
changed. In Ranjit’s words:
“Without a doubt, it was a lifechanging experience for me.
My values and priorities have
changed. Real success is
when you can make others
succeed.”
Parties interested in supporting this project, please turn to
the following website:
www.kosgodarelief.com
In Luxembourg a fund raising
organization has been established:
Sri Lanka Tsunami Relief
Fund A.S.B.L.
Bank account:
DEXIA BIL
IBAN LU69 0020 1804 5815 4300
SWIFT/BIC CODE BILLLULL
Communications Director
Photos courtesy of
kosgodarelief.com
11
Flood Disaster:
LAR-Crew Arrive Back
from the Crisis Area
“There is nothing left but
devastation, one can simply
not imagine it unless you see
it with your own eyes”
“It is mostly the children that
are in the worst condition”
In early January the LAR crew
landed back in Luxembourg following a gruelling week in the
South East Asia catastrophe
area.
nd
On January 2 , the LAR crew
flew down with the air-ambulance jet LX-LAR into the
crisis area. On arrival the
medical team of LAR comprising Dr. Dominik Dörr and
intensive care nurse Steve
Ehmann, actively helped in
the area devastated by the
tidal wave.
s p e c i a l
f e a t u r e
In a remote area 70 km
southwest from Colombo the
LAR team assisted in a
makeshift hospital in a completely impoverished slum
settlement.
“We helped the injured survivors of the slum. The corrugated iron cottages of the
people living on the beach
had been washed away altogether, and this is their home
and they just don’t want to
leave“, according to Ehmann.
“Many injured and sick
patients lay in a church that
was one of the few remaining
structures that has been
converted into a makeshift
hospital. It was mostly the
children that were in the
worst condition: a lot of this
was due to the swallowing
of the tsunami water and
causing some severe respiratory illness. The locals were
also severely ill from drinking
infected
water,
causing
dysentery and severe dehydration and obviously creating
a vicious circle.“
The
impoverished
beach
inhabitants also suffered from
hunger: “Admittedly they
could have lived from fish, but
they didn’t want to, because
they said that the fish have
eaten their relatives.” On top
of the injuries and the hunger,
a lot suffered from colds from
sleeping on the bare ground
outside.
LAR doctor Dr. Dominik Dörr
and Steve Ehmann examined
numerous “flood patients”
and gave them basic-medical
supplies at first. Since there
was a massive lack of medications, the team set out in
order to organize reinforcement and further help.
Many people complained that
in the first days after the
catastrophe the aid relief
arrived in the tourist resorts
first - so the poorest inhabitants in the poor regions were
at the disadvantage once
again.
The LAR team managed to
find a “NGO” (non governmental organisation) to assist
these people badly hit by the
tidal wave and who were able
to send out trucks with support goods such as medication, food, water and another
doctor to the slums.
On hearing about the LAR
teams effort, the director of the
Sri Lankan health ministry,
Dr. Harshan de Silva requested
that the LAR team meet up
with the local air rescue unit
to give them some advice
on how to evacuate severe
trauma patients via helicopter
and aircraft. The Fire brigade
also asked the LAR team for
advice and first aid training.
The local search and rescue
teams are used to evacuating
patients from the war torn
areas in the region but they
lack the medical experience
on dealing with severe trauma
patients on the spot. LAR will
be returning to the region to
further continue the medical
training of the local rescue
teams in Sri Lanka.
LAR is specialized in air rescue and humanitarian actions
from its 17 year experience in
various catastrophe areas
around the globe and are
ready to assist where help is
required. The LAR crew and
air-ambulance jets are always
on standby should a crisis
occur.
Louis Wright
Customer Relations Manager
12
had donated some of the
empty boxes so that packing
went on without problems.
Spontaneous Help for
Tsunami Victims
s p e c i a l
f e a t u r e
Following the disastrous news
right at start of this New Year,
the ‘Cargolux Charity Group’
consisting of a few volunteers,
took immediate action, asking
all colleagues for support to
get a shipment of relief goods
together, plus money donations to Luxembourg’s relief
organizations.
Since
several
buildings
accommodate our various
services and departments, in
each building one person was
responsible for the coordination. Finally, we found a
storage space in our operations building, next to our
company’s simulator.
The following days, the
first boxes and plastic
bags arrived, first from
our employees here,
from their families, then
also from their friends,
from their communes,
and
their
children’s
schools. Later on, we
were called by various
companies and organizations if we could also take
along their contributions.
Among them Clearstream,
DuPont de Nemours, GLP,
BNP, DZ Bank, Hotel Le Royal,
Hotel Hilton, Hotel Sheraton,
the Indesch Patenschaften of
Luxembourg, l’Enfant des
Etoiles and Copa-Cartermill,
Belgium, and our stations
from
London,
Prestwick,
Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt,
Amsterdam, Seattle, New York,
plus Cargolux crew members
and private individuals from
Luxembourg.
We could not believe the
stream of cars with boxes,
filled with helpful items, and
soon had created a huge pile
of them, ready for the shipments. Since we have Madras
and Bangkok among our many
worldwide destinations, we
had checked beforehand with
the local representatives how
to handle it best upon arrival.
At that time, we had no idea
about
the
overall
volume of our collection.
In Madras, since we ship twice
a year to several organizations, we received spontaneous response. In Bangkok,
we first had to find a way for
distribution to the Tsunami
victims in the South and in the
North of Thailand. So our representative in Bangkok contacted the Thai Red Cross, and
they agreed to distribute our
shipments further. In the
meantime, we received a third
request by a children’s home
in Chiang Mai, in the North of
Thailand.
We made up different colored
labels for our boxes, so that
each shipment was clearly
marked with the consignee,
the flight number, the date
and of course the Air Waybill.
Correct documentation is vital
for any of our shipments, plus
coordination with our export
department and our reservations department.
So we kept collecting for about
2-3 weeks, then, forced by the
enormous response, we had to
set a deadline and started with
the actual shipping of the various loads. We counted around
1400 big boxes, with mostly
sheets, clothes, toys, shoes,
and other useful items. Streff
Now we needed trucks to
bring everything over to the
Cargo Center. Luxair helped
out with vans, and in coordination with reservations, export
and warehouse control, and
our stations in Madras and
Bangkok, we finally got everything together.
Several flights left for Madras
and for Bangkok with our
shipments on board which we
photographed prior to loading.
In both countries, due to the
enormous quantities, we still
had to convince the local customs representatives that we
could not pay high customs
fees on our collections, and
quite a correspondence followed. In the end, we succeeded to deliver our part to India,
via Madras, and to South and
North Thailand via Bangkok.
For the shipment to
Chiang Mai we even had
the support of the local
German Embassy so that
it was released without
problems. This home in
Chiang Mai with over
hundreds
of
new
orphans due to the
Tsunami will be further
supported
by
the
International School of
Luxembourg,
and
Cargolux will also ship their
contribution. Our organizations in Madras will benefit
from additional shipments in
summer and for Christmas as
every year.
In addition to our shipments,
money transfers were done by
Cargolux’s management, its
staff club, and many of the
employees.
It had been busy weeks for the
Cargolux charity group and all
departments and the stations
involved with the actual shipment. We were happy we managed it and that, together with
all appreciated contributors,
Cargolux was able to support
the Tsunami victims.
Renate Bechthold
Manager Press & Promotions
Europe, Middle East and Africa
13
Into the New Year at ISL
s p e c i a l
f e a t u r e
The start of this year was a
disturbing one, the first
school week was filled with
discussions between staff and
pupils about what they could
do to help after the tsunami
disaster in South East Asia.
From these discussions it
became obvious that the way
forward was to make contact
with the various projects that
ISL is already involved with in
the area, and find out what
they needed.
most beneficial help. We collected new and used items
from our school community to
meet the needs as they were
explained to us by our teaching colleagues in Thailand.
Students, teachers and parent
volunteers worked relentlessly before and after school
for two weeks to collect and
package bed linen, tents, children’s clothes and school
books that the school’s community collected.
ISL will continue to
raise
money
for
“School for Life”,
through other projects, but in the meantime as one student
explained, “This is a
very immediate response
to a very immediate
problem”. Cargolux was
equally responsive to
our appeal for help
transporting the goods
to Thailand and the
Red cross in Thailand
took on the responsibility of getting the
goods
transported
within Thailand to
Chiang Mai.
“School for Life”, is a school
based on a farm in Chiang
Mai, Thailand, and has been
supported by ISL middle
school students for the past
year. In the next months,
“School for Life” expects to
take on an additional 50 to 70
children who have been
orphaned as a result of the
tsunami disaster. When we
realized that the project there
was taking on a whole new
dimension, we knew that this
was where we could give the
One change at ISL this past
school year is that we have
gone “green”. Just under a
year ago students involved in
the school’s Global Initiatives
Programme
attended
an
international schools’ conference to come up with proposals for global projects that
they could get involved in.
Many of the ideas discussed
were global environmental
issues, ISL students however,
realized that before they
moved forward to deal with
global environmental issues
there were some issues within their own school that had
to be addressed. With the
assistance of ISL’s Director
of Maintenance, Aly Biver,
SuperDrecksKescht was invited to make an appraisal of
the school. The areas that
were most specifically looked
at were general recycling in
the classrooms, the kitchens
and in the storage areas.
Unfortunately, this time last
year we were not very “green”
at all. We knew that there was
work to be done, we had tried
to initiate recycling a number
of years ago, yet somehow we
had only made it to the 50%
mark.
After the initial appraisal and
presentation to the students,
SuperDrecksKescht provided
guidance about what the
school needed to do to get
approval as an environmentally friendly school. They
also
provided
invaluable
contacts at Valorlux, an organization that dealt with the
practical details of providing
recycling bins and publicity
material for displays around
the school. Recycling has now
been in full swing since the
beginning of the school year.
The difference this time is
that it is a student initiative,
they are the ones providing
the project with the momentum to carry it forward, it is
simply being supported by the
administration of the school.
SuperDrecksKescht recently
validated the school as environmentally friendly.
14
s p e c i a l
f e a t u r e
Live music and entertainment
was provided by ISL’s jazz
band and Brazilian dancers.
DJ Pedro Braz kept everyone
dancing into the wee-small
hours. All funds raised from
this year’s tombola went to
support Orbis International;
a non-profit organization
dedicated to the prevention of
blindness.
Fusion of Cultures at the International Dinner
Of course as spring comes
around ISL traditionally celebrates with the International
Dinner dance. This is the
parent-teacher organization’s
annual fund raiser and has
become an important social
event in the calendar. This year
was no exception and the theme
of the evening was “Carnival in Rio“.
The world’s largest
international moving company
Contact our International Specialists:
112, rue du Kiem – L-8030 STRASSEN
Phone: (+352) 44 22 52 Fax: (+352) 45 55 47
Website: www.alliedarthurpierre.com
The money raised by the
tombola outstripped expectations, in part, due to the
generosity of our sponsors.
This year’s prizes included
2 Luxair flights to any destination, VLM flights to London,
SkyLine hotair balloon ride
over Luxembourg, a weekend
at the Hilton hotel, dinner at
Lea Linster’s and many more…
Therefore a huge thank you
from Orbis and ISL to all our
sponsors.
Lisa McLean
ISL Marketing
State Street Supports Global Issues at ISL
Two
years
ago,
the
International
School
of
Luxembourg (ISL) developed
the Global Issues Network, a
program intended to educate
students on current world
issues.
The inspiration for the program was the book “High
Noon: Twenty Global Problems,
Twenty Years to Solve Them”,
by Luxembourg-born J.F. Rischard,
European Vice-President of
the World Bank. In his work,
Mr. Rischard draws attention
to the cumbersome, inefficient nature of existing
institutions tasked with finding solutions to worldwide
problems such as global
warming, water deficiencies,
infectious
diseases
and
terrorism.
State Street Bank Luxembourg
has supported the Global
Issues Network through its
global philanthropy program
and has hosted several successful ISL student/teacher
conferences at their premises.
Julian Presber, Managing
Director, explains “State Street’s
commitment to the local community has been a part of our
corporate culture for a long
time. We were particularly
supportive of the Global
Issues Network program
because it provided an opportunity to create awareness
among young people about a
number of significant problems our international community is currently facing. The
conferences served as a platform to discuss the impact of
these issues on all of us and
the importance of finding
effective solutions.”
PLEASE YOURSELF.
BREAK THROUGH
s p e c i a l
f e a t u r e
18
State Street has also provided
a grant last year towards the
creation of the ISL Human
Rights Library Collection,
which serves to stimulate a
broader social consciousness
among ISL students and provides a valuable resource for
their research.
Vivien Veerkamp
Public Relations Manager
NEXT MSTM PROGRAM BEGINS SEPTEMBER 2005
Consumption (l/100 km): 10.9–19.1 • CO2 emission (g/km): 331– 349
www.cadillaceurope.com
The new Cadillac SRX Crossover gives you all the fun of a performance sedan while
enjoying the benefits of a luxury SUV. Choose between the V6 or the V8 Northstar
engine which can dish out 190 kW/258 bhp or 239 kW/325 bhp. Creating a drive
that will take your breath away, yet unsurprisingly you’ll feel totally in control. If you
want to take a crowd the SRX will accommodate seven people. Though as they relax
For information about the MSTM and other
Embry-Riddle degree programs, contact:
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
c/o Technoport Schlassgoart
66, rue du Luxembourg
L-4221 Esch sur Alzette
Tel.: (+352) 42 59 91 314
Fax: (+352) 42 59 91 322
Email: [email protected]
On the web: www.erau.edu/luxembourg
into your leather upholstered seats, admiring the chrome details and burled walnut,
you may find you now have the crowd following you.
The Cadillac SRX. From € 44,650.– incl. VAT. (Equipment may be optional.) Call toll-free
+80 00-CADILLAC (00 80 00-2 23 45 52) or e-mail [email protected]
AUTOPOLIS SA
Official Dealer
Zone d’activités Bourmicht, Bertrange
Tel: +352 43 96 96 2710
Diplomat Sales
State Street Supports Global Issues at ISL
Two
years
ago,
the
International
School
of
Luxembourg (ISL) developed
the Global Issues Network, a
program intended to educate
students on current world
issues.
The inspiration for the program was the book “High
Noon: Twenty Global Problems,
Twenty Years to Solve Them”,
by Luxembourg-born J.F. Rischard,
European Vice-President of
the World Bank. In his work,
Mr. Rischard draws attention
to the cumbersome, inefficient nature of existing
institutions tasked with finding solutions to worldwide
problems such as global
warming, water deficiencies,
infectious
diseases
and
terrorism.
State Street Bank Luxembourg
has supported the Global
Issues Network through its
global philanthropy program
and has hosted several successful ISL student/teacher
conferences at their premises.
Julian Presber, Managing
Director, explains “State Street’s
commitment to the local community has been a part of our
corporate culture for a long
time. We were particularly
supportive of the Global
Issues Network program
because it provided an opportunity to create awareness
among young people about a
number of significant problems our international community is currently facing. The
conferences served as a platform to discuss the impact of
these issues on all of us and
the importance of finding
effective solutions.”
PLEASE YOURSELF.
BREAK THROUGH
s p e c i a l
f e a t u r e
18
State Street has also provided
a grant last year towards the
creation of the ISL Human
Rights Library Collection,
which serves to stimulate a
broader social consciousness
among ISL students and provides a valuable resource for
their research.
Vivien Veerkamp
Public Relations Manager
NEXT MSTM PROGRAM BEGINS SEPTEMBER 2005
Consumption (l/100 km): 10.9–19.1 • CO2 emission (g/km): 331– 349
www.cadillaceurope.com
The new Cadillac SRX Crossover gives you all the fun of a performance sedan while
enjoying the benefits of a luxury SUV. Choose between the V6 or the V8 Northstar
engine which can dish out 190 kW/258 bhp or 239 kW/325 bhp. Creating a drive
that will take your breath away, yet unsurprisingly you’ll feel totally in control. If you
want to take a crowd the SRX will accommodate seven people. Though as they relax
For information about the MSTM and other
Embry-Riddle degree programs, contact:
c/o Technoport Schlassgoart
66, rue du Luxembourg
L-4221 Esch sur Alzette
Tel.: (+352) 42 59 91 314
Fax: (+352) 42 59 91 322
Email: [email protected]
On the web: www.erau.edu/luxembourg
into your leather upholstered seats, admiring the chrome details and burled walnut,
you may find you now have the crowd following you.
The Cadillac SRX. From € 44,650.– incl. VAT. (Equipment may be optional.) Call toll-free
+80 00-CADILLAC (00 80 00-2 23 45 52) or e-mail [email protected]
AUTOPOLIS SA
Official Dealer
Zone d’activités Bourmicht, Bertrange
Tel: +352 43 96 96 2710
Diplomat Sales
19
Embassy of the
United States of America
in Luxembourg
U.S. Cheering Luxembourg on
EU Presidency’s Challenging
Economic Agenda
During her recent trip to
Europe, U.S. Secretary of
State
Condoleezza
Rice
emphasized that transatlantic
relations are often far better
in practice than they are in
theory. Occasional high profile
trade disputes often obscure
the overwhelmingly good news
about the USD 1.5 trillion
bilateral trade and investment
relationship between the U.S.
and the EU - the largest such
relationship in the world.
Luxembourg’s Presidency of
the European Union is
focused on pushing common
economic initiatives to build
on this base to generate even
greater benefits for the entire
Atlantic community.
u . s .
e m b a s s y
When the Grand Duchy took
the helm of the EU Council
Presidency on January 1st,
all eyes turned to the leadership Luxembourg would wield
during the next six months.
The U.S. Embassy is encouraged by the very rapid
pace set by Luxembourg for
its ambitious EU agenda
through June.
The United States sees
Luxembourg’s Presidency as
an opportunity both to highlight the close friendship and
values we share and to
achieve lasting economic
growth.
“Our relationship is built on a
centuries-old foundation of
vibrant commerce and shared
ideals,” says Lorelei Snyder
(see picture above), U.S.
Embassy Economic Officer.
“Our respect for diversity of
opinion, heritage and talents
reinforces our bedrock faith in
political liberty and economic
freedom. In every case, one
cannot prosper without the
other.”
Successful European integration has been a key U.S.
foreign policy goal for over
half a century. As Secretary
Rice reminded audiences
across Europe, “A united
Europe was something that
the United States supported
from the very beginning of the
efforts to unite Europe immediately after World War II (…)
Two strong pillars of a Europe
whole and free - a united and
strong European Union, and a
united and strong NATO - will
serve us very well in the difficult, challenging but opportune times ahead of us.”
A united, peaceful Europe
has generated tremendous
opportunities for converging
interests, integrating Europe’s
neighbors and allies like the
United States through everdeeper economic and commercial ties. That is why the
U.S. Embassy is following
closely the greatest challenges facing the EU during
Luxembourg’s
Presidency,
including the EU Financial
Perspectives or 2007-2013
budget, development of the
Stability and Growth Pact, and
the Lisbon Agenda.
governments support economic reform and reduce trade
barriers to raise standards of
living. Moreover, at a time of
transition when parts of
Europe are experiencing economic dislocation, high unemployment, and slowed
growth, entrepreneurship and
job creation are especially
important.
Luxembourg is committed to
unleashing Europe’s creativity
and productivity to create
growth, and the United States
backs that commitment. “Job
creation, innovation, and economic growth are shared
goals that have a multiplier
effect on both sides of the
ocean,” Snyder notes. “Our
economies feed and mutually
reinforce each other. We grow
and prosper together.”
But Luxembourg also understands that real success
extends beyond the beaches
of the Atlantic communities.
European
and
American
strength provides resources
to promote prosperity and
security abroad.
Secretary Rice reinforced that
common European-American
goal during her European
tour. “We will continue our
attention on fighting the
scourge of AIDS, on poverty
alleviation, on countering
terrorism and proliferation of
dangerous weapons and of
promoting opportunity… worldwide,” she said.
“Europe’s choices affect communities everywhere, from
Oklahoma to Osaka to
Osweiler,” says Snyder.
“It
sometimes
surprises
Europeans to hear us say that
the Lisbon Process is important to Americans,” Snyder
says. “But it’s true. We know
that our citizens prosper only
when our interdependent
economies grow and expand
together. We are as steadfast
a supporter of European integration and expansion today
as we were sixty years ago.”
Snyder, who has also served
in U.S. Missions in Nigeria
and Venezuela, is inspired by
Luxembourg’s commitment to
public service, particularly its
rapid response to the Indian
Ocean
tsunami
disaster.
“Watching the Luxembourg
Presidency at work, I get a
strong sense that ‘We’re all in
this together,’” she says. “It’s
a small-town ideal that works
on a global scale.”
Through several transatlantic
forums, the EU and U.S. have
heard
organizations
and
private citizens urge that their
Laura Said
U.S.Embassy
20
•
Lisbon Agenda:
The question of how EU
competitiveness objectives
relate to the U.S. administration’s proposed economic reforms of social
security and taxation was
touched.
•
of AMCHAM representatives
the following trade issues
were discussed:
Trade and security:
The overall consent was
that as much as security
efforts are necessary, they
nonetheless should not
impede trade too much.
Doha Development Agenda:
In this context the question
of determining the extent of
tariff liberalization was
raised, for instance in the
financial services area. The
feeling was shared that “the
balance is not yet struck”.
In the course of the gettogether examples of successful transatlantic cooperations
between Luxembourg-based
companies and enterprises in
the United States were given,
among them SES Global and
Cargolux.
Luxembourg Visit of U.S. Under
Secretary for International Trade
In cooperation with the
U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg,
AMCHAM had the honor to
welcome
Grant
Aldonas,
U.S. Under Secretary for
International Trade, during
his one day visit to the Grand
Duchy on January 31, 2005.
Grant Aldonas was confirmed
as Under Secretary for International Trade in 2001; his
priorities include expanding
export
opportunities
for
American business, particularly small- and mediumsized and minority-owned
enterprises, enforcing trade
agreements to ensure that
American exporters obtain
the benefits of the bargain the
United States reached in previous negotiations, and the
rigorous enforcement of U.S
trade law to deter unfair trade
practices that distort markets
and deny U.S. firms the
opportunity to compete on an
equal basis with their foreign
competition.
•
During a breakfast meeting
that was held with the Under
Secretary and a select group
u . s .
n e w s
The case of the latter is
particularly interesting as
Cargolux operates an allBoeing fleet, thus proving its
close relations to the U.S.,
however is grappling within
the U.S. with “traffic pattern”
issues (meaning the permission to fly from hub to hub in
the United States).
All participants considered
the meeting a success as it
was yet another step to further the relations between the
United States and the Grand
Duchy.
Left to right: Grant Aldonas, Paul Schonenberg
Compiled by
21
Ambassador Conzemius and
her staff for being receptive
and enthusiastic about the
exhibition which was very well
received by the Washington D.C.
community and Luxembourg
officials. The art spent several
months at the beautiful newly
renovated Luxembourg Embassy
in Washington.
Across the Atlantic
As many of you know, on
June 8, 2002, AMCHAM celebrated its 5th Anniversary at
the beautiful Château de
Vianden.
The
AMCHAM
Executive
Committee sought to achieve
something special, by marking
this event with a special tone
and creating a collaborative
effort between two unlikely
worlds: Business and Art.
Eight
AMCHAM
member
companies:
• Deloitte,
• Ernst & Young,
• IKANO Funds,
• KPMG,
• SEB Private Bank,
• State Street Bank,
• Streff Removal & Storage,
• PricewaterhouseCoopers,
helped sponsor the event.
Two years later, after a long
effort and the financial support
of our members, Deloitte,
KPMG, Ernst & Young, and
PricewaterhouseCoopers the
Business Abstract exhibition
came to the United States.
Another special thanks to
Streff and Cargolux for overseeing this shipment, without
them this could not have happened.
The first “U.S.-exhibition” was
organized at the reopening of
the Luxembourg Embassy in
Washington during September
2004, with the presence of
H.R.H. the Grand Duke of
Luxembourg, diplomats and
business community members. Special thanks to
u . s .
n e w s
Local artists were commissioned and each artist was
matched with one of the companies to study and draw
inspiration from the essence
of each company; creating a
visual representation of the
company in sculpture, paint
or another artistic medium.
The art was unveiled at the
Château de Vianden and well
received by our members and
the community; later it was
also exhibited at the Banque
de Luxembourg.
Luxembourg Embassy in Washington D.C.
Georges Faber and Brigitte Goergen
The next stop for the
Business Abstract exhibition
was New York City during
November and December of
2004 at the Luxembourg
House.
This
magnificent
house was designed by architect Harold Sterner in 1929
for the former Secretary of
Defense, James Forrestal and
was the home of the great
American composer Irving
Berlin and his family from
1947 until his death in 1989 at
the age of 101.
In 1990 the five story town
house was acquired by the
Government of the Grand
Duchy of Luxembourg and
subsequently renovated to
house the Permanent Mission
of Luxembourg to the United
Nations,
represented
by
Ambassador Jean-Marc Hoscheit,
the Consulate General of
Luxembourg, the Luxembourg
Board of Economic Development as well as the
Luxembourg Tourist Office.
The Consul General of
Luxembourg, Georges Faber, the
President of the Luxembourg
(LACC) Fernand Lamesch and
22
Minister Schiltz. This was a
great opening for the exhibition. Well, if these paintings
could only talk, they would
have a lot to say… ’from a very
small country in the heart of
Europe to have traveled
across the Atlantic to three
unique cities in the U.S.
where many people visited
and admired us.’
Left to right: Robert Biwer, Toni Dudsak, Holly Baxter
the Director of the LTO,
Brigitte Goergen, welcomed
this exhibition with open
arms.
u . s .
n e w s
The exhibition was combined
with a launching of DanieleChristine
Kremers
Fine
Jewelry Collection making it a
truly great evening. Many of
the New York elite as well as
numerous magazines were
there which meant fantastic
public relations for our exhibition. Once again, it was great
to hear how everyone loved
this concept and appreciated
how these companies were so
brave to have taken their
business to the next level:
Business and Art.
Also KPMG took this opportunity to host a fantastic reception for their special clients
during the stay of the exhibition. I will let you read their
article. Christmas came and
the LACC had their Christmas
party with the surroundings of
the Business Abstract exhibition.
The new year of 2005 became
a very special time for
Luxembourg as it assumed
the Presidency of the EU.
Thanks to the Consul General
of Luxembourg in San Francisco,
Robert Biwer, the Business
Abstract for the last leg of the
tour was packed up once
again in their special crates
and arrived in San Francisco
safe and sound at the beautiful gallery Baxter Chang Patri
Fine Art at the Hotel Nikko.
Once again, I packed up and
arrived in San Francisco to
oversee the art for its hanging.
Thanks to Holly Baxter,
Gallery Director, and Candace
Huey, Gallery Manager, the
hanging of the art went
smoothly and all the art
looked wonderful. We were
ready for the exhibition.
At this time I would like to
thank Paul Schonenberg and
the
AMCHAM
Executive
Committee for trusting me
with this project; thanks also
to Margot Parra and Tatjana
Basilio-Schaefer for their
support.
I would like to thank once again
Deloitte, KPMG, Ernst & Young,
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Streff
and Cargolux for believing in
this project with me. It was a
great tour and a new way to
promote your company in
such a unique way. It has
been a pleasure to have
traveled with your art.
All the best,
Toni Dudsak
Consul General Robert Biwer
planned the dates for the
exhibition perfectly because
we were honored with the
delegation from Luxembourg
of both Minister Krecké and
Left to right: Robert Biwer, Jeannot Krecké, Jean-Louis Schiltz
23
KPMG and AMCHAM Promote Luxembourg in New York
with Artistic Flair
This past December 2nd, 2004,
a special event promoting
Luxembourg featuring a convergence of art with business
hosted by the Luxembourg
Consul General, Georges Faber
and sponsored by KPMG
Luxembourg together with
the American Chamber of
Commerce in Luxembourg
demonstrated New York’s
interest in international business relations.
In offering a toast, the
Luxembourg Consul General,
Georges Faber thanked the
attendees for showing their
interest in Luxembourg and
emphasized how they are
important in helping promote
Luxembourg in general.
John Li, chairman of KPMG
Luxembourg, thanked the
Consul General for hosting
the event, and described how
This event was a clear success,
given the high number and
the quality of the U.S. attendance (companies like Citibank,
Computer Associates, Lehman
Brothers took part, in addition
to representatives of various
Luxembourg firms such as
Arcelor). The Ambassador of
Luxembourg to the United
Nations, Jean-Marc Hoscheit
also attended the event, together with Fernand Lamesch,
President of the LACC.
Planning was the key to this
success; organized by the
KPMG Luxembourg Tax Center
in New York and Toni Dudsak.
This Business Abstract exhibition was Toni’s project from
its origin in 2002, where
the event was so successful,
u . s .
n e w s
Left to right: John Li, Hans Decleir, Brigitte Goergen, Toni Dudsak, Louis Thomas
An idea that saw genesis in
the summer of 2002, during
an exhibition in Luxembourg
celebrating the 5th anniversary of AMCHAM; local business leaders, including KPMG
sponsored various artists’
renditions of the juxtaposition
of art and business in
Luxembourg. In particular,
the painting sponsored by
KPMG, a beautiful rendering
of the view of the Petrusse
valley, now a global financial
center, from the eyes of a
native New Yorker, now living
in Luxembourg.
successful and influential
Luxembourg is in terms of
its economic and financial
development, speaking among
other things, of the myths and
realities of Luxembourg.
After cocktails, the organizers
have shared a pleasant dinner
together with Georges Faber,
Brigitte Goergen, Director of the
Luxembourg American Chamber
of Commerce, Toni Dudsak,
event organizer, Louis Thomas
from KPMG Tax, and KPMG
Luxembourg employees currently
on secondment in New York.
it was clear that with Toni’s
help it had what it takes to
make it in New York.
In its willingness to promote
Luxembourg in the USA, and help to
those interested in doing so, KPMG
Luxembourg raised the profile of the
entire Luxembourg community and
will continue supporting projects
and organizing events that help recognizing the Grand Duchy as a
preferred place for industrial, commercial, and financial investment.
Louis Thomas
Partner KPMG Tax
24
Interview with Martine Schommer
Permanent Representative of
Luxembourg in Brussels
Q: What are the principle
priorities of the Luxembourg
presidency?
A: The European Union
will face several important
challenges in 2005. In particular during the 1st semester,
the Luxembourg Presidency
needs to make progress in
delivering on the Lisbon
Agenda. The Presidency will
seek to build on the progress
achieved so far on the basis of
a balanced strategy covering
an economic, social and environmental dimension.
The Mid-Term-Review of the
Lisbon Agenda offers the
opportunity to focus on priorities for more competitiveness,
more and better jobs, as well
as synergies with the environment. A tightening of the
method of functioning of the
Agenda should also help to
better organize the relationship between EU and national
responsibilities.
i n t e r v i e w
In 2005 the Union intends to
reach agreement on its
finances for the next seven
years as well as on a set of
detailed proposals covering
main policy areas. It is our
ambition to achieve a political
agreement on this issue by
June 2005.
The newly-adopted ‘Hague
programme’
of
EU-wide
justice and home affairs
action will strengthen judicial
and police cooperation, the
Union's external borders and
the fight against terrorism. An
action plan to implement this
programme will be the basis
of our work.The EU will also
take action to strengthen stability, security and prosperity
on its borders and globally.
During
the
Luxembourg
Presidency the enlargement
process with Croatia and
Turkey will be duly prepared.
The Accession Treaty with
Bulgaria and Romania will be
signed.
Q: What do you hope to
achieve within your six month
tenure?
A: This will be the 11th
Luxembourg Presidency of
the Council of Ministers. As
we have done in the past, we
will do our utmost to bring
forward during these six
months the European integration process. I think that
the best characterization of
our objective has been made
by President McAleese, at the
European
Parliament
in
Strasbourg when she said:
‘The Union must be effective
internally, influential externally, and must equip itself
for the future’.
Q: Criticism of the EU’s
progress to achieve the aims
stated in the Lisbon Agenda,
that of making the EU the
world’s most dynamic and
competitive economy by 2010,
have peaked recently coinciding with the release of the
Kok report. What is your reaction to this and do you think
the negative reaction has
been fair?
A: May I first remind you that
the objective was and is to
achieve the most competitive
knowledge based economy by
2010. Yes, there is concern
regarding
the
current
pace/status of where Europe
is regarding the Lisbon
Agenda. The Kok report was
meant to ‘assess’ the current
situation, and to form the
basis for more complete
assessment to be presented
by the Commission to the
Council early 2005. On that
basis,
the
Luxembourg
Presidency will work and try
to focus on future action. 2005
will constitute the mid-point
of the Lisbon Strategy, and
this will provide an important
opportunity to review progress,
increase efforts across the
board to achieve the agreed
goals, and to take corrective
action to stay on course
where necessary.
Q: In the light of the recent
U.S. elections and bearing in
mind that the EU and the U.S.
have been known to clash
over trade issues, how do you
hope to further progress the
relationship towards a more
positive leaning?
A: The visit in February 2005
of President Bush to Brussels
and the European Institutions
was a major event in our
transatlantic relations. It
offered a unique opportunity
to broaden and intensify
dialogue with the U.S. on all
political and economic issues.
Together we can make
progress on the Middle East
Peace Process, Iraq, Iran, and
the world to be a safer place.
Luxembourg will also follow
up the June 2004 EU-U.S.
Summit declarations, in particular on strengthening the
economic partnership, on
combating terrorism and on
non-proliferation of WMD. We
intend to take forward the
results of the stakeholder
consultation and develop
forward-looking strategy to
enhance our economic partnership and eliminate barriers
called for at the 2004 Summit.
The EU will then work to
ensure effective implementation of the forward-looking
strategy.
25
EU and U.S. economic interests
may
occasionally
clash, but they will not detract
us from continuing to build
our transatlantic relation.
Q: The Services Directive is
being viewed as a crucial part
of modern EU legislation.
How will you try to ensure the
smooth progress of the
Directive? Do you see it as a
high priority dossier during
your six month presidency?
A: The Services Directive is an
important piece of legislation
put forward by the Commission
and contributes to a missing
link in completing our single
market. Some aspects of the
proposal have to go through
even more thorough scrutiny
by Member States, in particular concerning the derogations and exceptions already
envisaged in the proposal.
This work will be continued by
the Luxembourg Presidency.
i n t e r v i e w
Q: The Irish and Dutch presidencies aimed to cut EU ‘redtape’ and further improve the
ease of progressing and
enforcing regulation in the
European Union. What does
the Luxembourg presidency
aim to do to further simplify
the legislative process?
A: Luxembourg will continue
to take forward the four
Presidencies’ initiative on
regulatory reform, as initiated
during the Irish Presidency,
including the implementation
of the Interinstitutional Agreement on better law-making.
We will seek to ensure that
proposals for legislation will
be accompanied by a credible
impact assessment.
We will, further, pursue work
to implement the commitments of the 2004 Spring
European Council and strengthen and promote the use of
impact assessment for new
legislation and the review of
existing law as well as promote the use of alternatives
to regulation.
Q: How do you see the issues
of further enlargement?
A: In 2005 the Union will continue its work intended to prepare Bulgaria and Romania to
join the EU in 2007. The
Accession Treaty for these
two countries will be signed
during the month of April in
Luxembourg. Negotiations for
accession will be opened with
Croatia – subject to it maintaining full cooperation with
the International Criminal
Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia. As for Turkey, following a positive decision by
the December 2004 European
Council, negotiations will
start in October 2005.
Q: And the Constitutional
Treaty developing?
A: Member States signed the
Constitutional Treaty in Rome
in October 2004. The ratification process for the new
Treaty will continue across
the EU throughout 2005.
The Council will keep track
of progress in the process
of
ratification
of
the
Constitutional Treaty in each
Member State. Preparatory
work will be needed in certain
areas in order to prepare the
ground for rapid implementation after ratification. Our
vision goes towards ‘more
Europe’,
not
necessarily
‘more debates’.
Interview courtesy
American Chamber of
Commerce
to the European Union
26
i n f o r m a t i o n
t o o l b o x
Economic Outlook for the European
Union in 2005
Any hopes for a strong economic recovery in the European
Union have faded in recent
months, with 2005 set to be
another year of relatively low
economic growth for most of
the economies of the EU.
2004 started with much
promise, with most of the
EU’s
leading
economies
showing increasing economic
growth in the first half of the
year. However, the weakness
of the US dollar, coupled with
an overall global economic
slowdown in the second half
of 2004 led to lower economic
growth rates in much of the
EU in late 2004. Furthermore,
inflationary pressures began
to hinder economic growth as
oil prices remained high. This
helped to further dampen
consumer spending that was
already at low levels. As a
result, while 2004 saw higher
GDP growth for most EU
countries than in previous
years, it nevertheless failed to
meet earlier expectations.
Unfortunately
for
the
European Union, 2005 does
not appear to hold much
promise for an improved economic outlook. A number of
factors will continue to hinder
economic growth in the EU,
including the aforementioned
weakness of the US dollar
that is set to continue until at
least 2006. This will have a
major impact upon European
exports and will dampen
growth prospects for those
EU economies with significant
exports outside of the EU
(Germany, Netherlands, etc.).
Furthermore, domestic demand
levels will remain sluggish, as
they have across much of the
EU for the past five years or
more. As many EU governments continue to push for
desperately needed economic
reforms in 2005, popular
resistance to these reforms
will remain strong and this
will have a major impact upon
consumer confidence levels.
Of course, there will continue to
be significant discrepancies
between EU members in
terms of economic performance in 2005. Among the
EU’s four leading economies,
we are forecasting that only
Britain will exceed 2% GDP
growth in 2005, with Germany,
Italy and France all realizing
GDP growth rates of between
1.5% and 1.8%. Over the past
ten years, Germany has only
averaged GDP growth of 1.3%
per year, with Italy performing
only slightly better at 1.6%,
and this economic stagnation
is set to continue in both
countries for some time to
come. French growth rebounded
in late 2004, but it too is at
risk from low levels of consumer demand and the high
value of the euro.
Elsewhere in the EU, economic growth will remain
uneven, with Scandinavian
economies realizing GDP
growth rates of between 2%
and 3%, while Spain records
solid growth over slightly
more than 3%. Meanwhile,
Luxembourg GDP growth is
forecast to jump to 3.6% in
2005, its highest rate since
2000, but well below the rates
experienced in the 1990s.
Neighboring Belgium, one of
2004’s best performers in the
EU, will see growth slow to
2.1%.
Compared to other major
global
economies,
the
European Union will continue
to perform poorly. 2005 will be
the 13th time in the last 14
years that annual GDP growth
in North America has exceeded that of the European
Union.
Moreover, key emerging economies such as China and
India will continue to experience rapid economic growth
(although below the levels of
2004), providing even more
foreign competition for the EU
in terms of attracting foreign
investment, competing for
export markets and creating
jobs. Among developed economies, Japan will continue
to struggle, suffering from
many of the same problems
as the European Union. In
fact, Japan is currently in its
fourth recession in the past
ten years, a worse record
than any EU economy over
the same period.
The European Union faces a
very difficult task in meeting
the goals of the Lisbon
Agenda that aimed to make
the EU the world’s most competitive economy by 2010.
Long-term factors such as
Europe’s demographic decline,
its of economic flexibility and
the growth of foreign competition are all serving to hold
back economic expansion in
the EU.
Many of the EU’s governments have realized the need
for economic reform, but have
met huge popular resistance
to such reforms, hindering
Europe’s economic competitiveness and ability to expand.
As a result, 2005 will prove to
be another difficult year for
many of the EU’s leading
economies, with slow economic growth and continued
high unemployment.
Michael Weidokal
Director at ISA
27
ComIT Take Off Event
On February 17, 2005 the
ComIT held its annual “Take
Off” event at the magnificent
film
studios
of
RTL
Luxembourg with the sponsorship of BCE, RTL Group
and Cisco Systems. The topic
of the evening was “IP
Telephony, Wishful Thinking
or Business Reality?”
After ComIT Chairman Stefan
Soutaer’s brief review for the
year 2004 and outlook for
2005, the following presentations were given:
“Introduction to IP Telephony”
by Tun van Rijswijck, BCE
• “Impact of Skype on Telecom
Industry” by Marc Vollenweider,
Evalueserve
• “Case
Study 1: Multidata”
by Michel Ury
• “Case
Study 2: KPMG”
by Michael Hofmann
• “Case
Study 3: Banque
Raiffeisen” by Alain Marchioni
•
Left to right: Marc Vollenweider, Michael Hofmann,
Stefan Soutaer, Michel Ury, Alain Marchioni
a m c h a m
c o m m i t t e e s
Special Thanks to our Sponsors:
All presentations will be available on AMCHAM’s website.
Upcoming ComIT events will
take place on April 21, June
16, September 15, October 20
and November 17, 2005 –
please stay tuned and check
for regular updates on
AMCHAM’s
website
at
www.amcham.lu.
• EU Jurisprudence update –
fiscal climatic change?
• Luxemburg corporate taxes
– what’s new, what’s coming?
• The AMCHAM White Paper
on Luxembourg taxes for
companies.
Tax and Fiscal Affairs Committee
The Tax and Fiscal Affairs
Committee of the American
Chamber of Commerce in
Luxembourg warmly invites
you to an evening seminar
LUXEMBOURG AND U.S.
CORPORATE TAX UPDATE
Banque de Luxembourg,
Boulevard Royal
Tuesday 22 March 2005,
18:00 – 20:30
A panel of expert speakers
will give short presentations
on a variety of corporate
income tax topics including:
• The US Jobs Creation Act of
2004 – its effects for US
corporations doing business
internationally
• The 2004 Luxembourg law
on Securitisation
A guest speaker from the
Internal Revenue Service
based at the US Embassy in
Paris will be present.
There will be a 20-minute
interval during the seminar
for cocktails and networking.
28
•
•
New Chairman for HR Committee
After several years as Chairman of the HR Committee
Marios Paras has resigned
due to his extended business
commitment and passed the
baton on to Bernhard Dedenbach
who is Managing Director for
Korn/Ferry in Luxembourg.
AMCHAM would like to thank
Marios for his tremendous
efforts in making the Committee
an outstanding success and
at the same time welcomes
Bernhard as new head of the
HR Committee.
a m c h a m
c o m m i t t e e s
Bernhard and his Committee
will work on the following
objectives:
The Human Resources Committee
of AMCHAM is a forum of
experienced business professionals and HR practitioners
who offer guidance and thought
leadership in all matters related to HR Management. It
provides AMCHAM members
as well as other actors in the
business community with a
platform to discuss and facilitate solutions for issues faced
within the HR environment in
Luxembourg and the Greater
Region. It is also committed
to enhance co-operation within the European AMCHAM
network.
The Committee’s activities are
built around six objectives:
• Raising of professional
standards within the Englishspeaking HR community
and the promotion of an
active HR management
• Elevation of the HR management function within
Networking with Yves Mersch,
Governor of the Central Bank
of Luxembourg
The Financial Services Committee
organized a highly successful
networking at the U.S.
Embassy; on February 15, 2005
AMCHAM was honored to
welcome
Yves
Mersch,
Governor of the Central Bank
of Luxembourg, who shared
his thoughts on “The Evolution of the European Model
of Integration” with the more
than 100 participants. In his
presentation, Yves Mersch analyzed the concept of integration from a historical point of
•
•
companies and in the business community
Development of closer ties
of co-operation between HR
experts in the business sectors and their counterparts
in government
Research and development
of HR best practices and
lobbying for their adoption
Advocacy on behalf of quality
of life issues impacting the
international working community
Networking within the HR
community in order to
enhance and facilitate understanding and co-operation.
It is essential to always keep
abreast with newest developments and innovative HR
management
approaches,
often based on successful
implementation in the international
market
outside
Luxembourg, specifically in
the United States. Thus, the
HR Committee is dedicating a
great effort to keep the community informed about cutting edge in the field.
view, thereby comparing the
different
approaches
in
Europe and the United States.
He encouraged his listeners
to be aware of our diversities
and sensibilities while building bridges between our
nations.
The full presentation is available on www.bcl.lu
Left to right: Peter Terpeluk Jr., Yves Mersch, Henk van Eldik
29
In Memoriam
Richard G. Blacklin
On February 24, 2005 we received the terrible news that Mr. Richard Blacklin, a longtime supporter of AMCHAM, had lost his battle with cancer.
He was appointed Director of Sales in November 2003 when he joined the Sheraton
Luxembourg Aerogolf Hotel coming from the travel agency business. He had been active
in the travel trade for nearly 20 years, working successively for 3 different travel agencies in Brussels before changing for Lufthansa where he climbed the steps from reservations clerk to Area Passenger Sales Manager for Luxembourg where he arrived in
1994. In 2000 he transferred to KLM Royal Dutch Airline to undertake a new challenge
followed by another one at WorldTravel BTI. In his leisure time he enjoyed travelling and
was known as an established athlete participating in triathlons.
Richard’s enthusiasm, sense of humour and positive outlook made him a pleasure to
work with and he will be sorely missed by us.
c o m m u n i t y
n e w s
Investor Trip to Florida
Dresdner Bank Luxembourg
S.A. offers innovative solutions of financing U.S. real
estate focusing Florida. It provides a team of experts to
accompany European owners
of U.S. real estate and future
buyers of such in carefully
preparing their decisions,
especially from a EURO/ USD
currency view.
Within the scope of this business the bank will again
organize a trip to Florida for
investors. The preliminary
date is May 8 – 16, 2005.
The purpose of these journeys
are to present the real estate
market and its investment
opportunities in Florida and
provide investors with ideas
on how to finance property in
an easy and favourable way. In
cooperation with local real
estate brokers a wide range
of property, for private as well
as for investment purposes,
will be presented.
In addition the participants
will get a deep insight into
fiscal and legal aspects of
holding U.S. real estate
assets by presentations of
local lawyers specialized on
tax, inheritance, visa and
immigration law.
When it comes to financing
your dream of an apartment
or house in Florida, Dresdner
Bank Luxembourg S.A. has
the key to success. Their concept utilizes the favorable
EURO/USD exchange rate and
the low interest rate environment for both lucrative USD
loans (e.g. for real estate investments or private residential
vacation homes or yachts
in Florida) and currency
accounts.
If you are interested in experiencing the U.S. real estate
market on the spot and benefiting from the experience of
(local) real estate professionals,
you can get detailed information at:
Dresdner Bank Luxembourg
Andreas Bode
Phone: (+352) 4760 3290
E-Mail:
[email protected]
30
Democrats Abroad Luxembourg
Democrats Abroad has the status
of “the 51” state!
Missing from this column is
the smile of Larry Elliott and
in its place is mine. Larry has
stepped down as chair of
and, as past vice chair, I move
up until elections next spring.
I am a proud registered
Democrat who has lived in
Luxembourg on and off for
the past four years, and permanently since last September.
We owe Larry a great deal of
gratitude for getting our
chapter started. Larry and his
wife Gisèle have lived in
Luxembourg for 20 years and
he has been DAL chair for 15.
The years he has dedicated to
our organization are beyond
the call of duty but, as he
said to me, he was born a
Democrat and will die one for a simple reason: he
believes in the basic principles of his party and is
opposed to those of the other
party. He may have retired as
chair, but his parting words
were, “Look for me on the
barricades in the next election.” Larry is a professional
writer (nine books, including
biographies of Senator Daniel
K. Inouye and New York’s best
known mayor, Fiorello La
Guardia).
His last AMCHAM column
was
called
Postmortem,
which was appropriate after
the election. But while we are
ready to work with the
President, make no mistake Bush’s close victory was
neither a mandate nor a
blank check and it’s not too
early for us to re-charge our
batteries for the 2006 or 2008
elections. The 2004 results
did not turn out as Democrats
hoped, but the time for
hashing over the what-mighthave-beens is over. Now we
have our work cut out for us.
Representing
Luxembourg
at the national Democrats
Abroad meeting in Amsterdam
the weekend after the elections, I expected gloomy faces.
Instead I found a gathering of
energized souls. I invited
the DA Executive Director,
Rachelle Jailer Valladares, to
be the guest speaker at our
general meeting held on
March 10. We look forward to
more such meetings where
we can congregate as a dedicated and result-oriented
party. Meanwhile, email me at
nch@bitstsream with your
ideas and suggestions.
N. Christine Heinerscheid
Chair
database and getting invitations to all social occasions
including joint forums.
c o m m u n i t y
n e w s
Republicans Abroad
in Luxembourg
Now is the time to show
your support and renew
your membership in the
Republicans Abroad; a key in
helping to re-elect the incumbent Republican President!
Your patriotic membership
benefits include regular gettogethers with great discussions on past, current and
future issues concerning U.S.
foreign
policies
abroad,
home-front events, crucial
subjects and legislations, U.S.
role/support for foreign countries;
U.S.
budget,
tax
reforms, as well as the
importance of U.S. relationships; stability,influence, and
the impact of U.S. leadership
role worldwide, and any topic
of interest to the group, etc.
Full membership includes
being listed in our private
These are just some of the
subjects we openly discuss in
keeping tuned in and up-todate with everyday concerns
that directly or indirectly
affect our everyday lives as
residents abroad and are of
interest to our membership at
large,our families and the
special relationship we share
with our fellow Republicans
abroad and other nationalities. Basically a group of very
friendly and open-minded
individuals. If you would like
to receive more information
on our benefits email or call
us. We hope you decide to join
us this year for some fabulous
conversations!
Sincerely yours,
Sharon Molitor-March
Chairman
Phone: 091 72 33 60
u s e f u l
p h o n e
n u m b e r s
a n d
l i n k s
31
➠
U.S GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
➠
LUXEMBOURG RESOURCES
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington D.C.
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Government Guide
U.S. Centers for Disease Control
U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg
Government of the Grand Duchy
46 01 23
478 - 1
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
British Chamber of Commerce
Chilean Chamber of Commerce
Chinese Chamber of Commerce
French Chamber of Commerce
Italian Chamber of Commerce
Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce
Nobelux - Nordic Chambers
Portuguese Chamber of Commerce
Spanish Chamber of Commerce
43 17 56
46 54 66
42 11 35 60
021 32 26 86
26 20 37 65
45 50 83 1
42 39 39 1
26 45 96 73
26 12 35 17
26 44 10 20
AMERICAN COMMUNITY
American Women’s Club of Luxembourg
Republicans Abroad in Luxembourg
The Network
44 84 77
26 67 17 26
091 72 33 60
www.uschamber.org
www.doc.gov
www.state.gov
www.governmentguide.com
www.cdc.gov
www.amembassy.lu
www.etat.lu
www.amcham.lu
www.bcc.lu
www.ccil.lu
www.cc.lu
www.nobelux.se
www.ccill.lu
www.chacomesp.lu
www.awcluxembourg.com
http://lu.democratsabroad.org/
www.republicansabroad.com
www.the-network.lu
EDUCATION
European School
International School
St.George’s School
Sacred Heart University
Miami University
43 20 82 1
www.restena.lu
47 00 20
www.isl.lu
42 32 24
www.st-georges.lu
22 76 13
www.shu.lu
58 22 22-1 www.units.muohio.edu/luxembourg/
42 59 91 314
www.erau.edu/luxembourg
TRANSPORTATION
Airport Luxembourg-Findel
Central Train Station
Benelux Taxis - VIP services
Colux
Inter-Taxis
Taxilux
47 98 50 50
49 24 24
40 38 40
48 22 33
40 52 52
40 75 02
www.luxair.lu
www.cfl.lu
40 99 77 91
11 81 7
11 81 6
www.pt.lu
www.editus.lu
TELECOMMUNICATION
P&T
Directory Inquiries
EMERGENCY
Police
Fire/Emergency
Children /Poisoning
HOSPITALS
Centre Hospitalier
Clinique d´Eich
Clinique Ste. Thérèse
Hôpital Kirchberg
Hospitals on duty
National
International
113
112
44 11 31 33
44 11 1
4 37 77 1
4 97 76 1
24 68 1
www.chl.lu
www.clinique-eich.lu
www.hopital.lu
32
Publication description
The AmCham News Magazine is the official publication of the American Chamber of Commerce in
Luxembourg.
1,500 copies are distributed free of charge to the
members of the American Chamber of Commerce,
embassies, members of affiliated organizations,
hotels, media and government agencies. Readers
include local business leaders and professionals in
Luxembourg who are active in international trade,
legal and governmental affairs, shipping, finance
and manufacturing.
The AmCham News Magazine also reports on
news from the community.
The AmCham News Magazine is published four
times a year.
A limited amount of advertising space is available at
very economical rates, making the News Magazine
an extremely effective way to reach a select wealthy
and influential readership in Luxembourg and
adjacent communities in Germany, France, the
Netherlands and Belgium.
Advertisers
Garage Arnold Kontz, BMW ................................ Back cover
Streff Removals & Storage.......................... Inside cover left
Rowlands Intérim .................................... Inside cover right
Allied Arthur Pierre ................................................ page 14
Cadillac/Autopolis ....................................................page 15
Cobelfret .................................................................. page 16
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University ......................page 18
Interior Rent ............................................................page 16
Villeroy & Boch..........................................................page 17
Production Schedule
The magazine is published four times per year
(Spring, Summer, Fall, Holiday Season)
Terms and Conditions
Special positioning, art services, typesetting, mechanicals or file work on advertisements may incur additional charges. Please inquire. Cancellations are
accepted only when submitted in writing.
Late cancellations will be invoiced at 50 percent of
the space booked.
Payment is expected upon presentation of invoice
unless otherwise agreed to in writing prior to
invoice issue.
Technical
B&W materials should be film, screen 120, right
reading.
a d v e r t i s i n g
Miscellaneous
Advertisers and agencies are liable for advertising
content and any claims subsequently arising therefrom.
The publishers reserve the right to reject any
advertising deemed inappropriate or offensive.
Rates in EUR
Back cover color
Inside covers color
Full page b/w
Full page color
1/2 page b/w
1/2 page color
1/4 page b/w
Member
1.000
625
500
600
325
400
200
Non Member
1.250
750
600
725
375
475
250
For full year advertising (4 issues) 5% discount will
be granted.
For further details please contact:
AMCHAM’s office: (+352) 43 17 56.
PRE-ORDER FORM
Working in Luxembourg
“The AMCHAM HR and Professional Business Guide”
Second Edition
This publication is the only English language guide for business
and professional people who want to know the laws, regulations,
policies, procedures, customs and climate of the Luxembourg
business environment. The book is currently being revised and
will be available in the Fall of 2005.
For more information please e-mail to: [email protected].
Company name:
Contact name:
Address:
City:
Postal code:
Country:
Quantity:
Date:
Cost per book EUR 50 + shipping & handling:
Signature:
The BMW 5 Series Touring.
The BMW 5 Series Touring responds perfectly to the most ambitious requirements. It is a top class automobile, combining
exclusive charisma and exceptional polyvalence. The outstanding safety systems and powerful but economical engines
are just two of its many impressive attributes. In the BMW 5 Series Touring, you’ll find the same comfort and driving
pleasure as the Saloon. But what sets it apart is its large panorama sunroof, available as an option, which makes you feel
as though you’re riding in the open air; its 1650 litres of luggage space divisible into practical compartments; and its
self-levelling pneumatic suspension on the rear axle that ensures perfect road-holding and driving comfort,
whatever the load. A real pleasure to drive for the ambitious …
BMW 5 Series
Touring
525i
545i
525d
530d
535dA
www.bmw.lu
Sheer
Driving Pleasure
Arnold Kontz
Route de Thionville 184
L-2610 Luxembourg
Tél.: 49 19 41-1
[email protected]
www.arnoldkontz.lu
Environmental information : www.bmw.lu
Average consumption ( l /100km ) / CO2 emission ( g/km) : 11,3-7/274-187
G&CO
Plenty of space for ambition.

couv amcham.indd - The American Chamber of Commerce

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