About USACC

United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce
1212 Potomac Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20007
Tel.: (202) 333-8702--- Fax: (202) 333-8703
E-mail: chamber@usacc.org

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

Azerbaijan today is a country that is geopolitically and strategically vital to the United States and the free world. The original Republic of Azerbaijan was formed in 1918 in the wake of World War I, as the first nation in the Caucasus to establish an independent, secular, and democratic government with its own parliament, army and currency. However, not long thereafter, the newly formed state of Azerbaijan was taken over by the Soviet Union. On December 3, 1991, the people of Azerbaijan voted overwhelmingly in a referendum in favor of the formation of the new independent Republic of Azerbaijan after more than 70 years of Soviet rule.

Bordering on the Caspian Sea with rich agrarian productivity and its plentiful supply of natural resources, Azerbaijan can provide a stable source of energy and other products for generations to come. Today, more than ever, mutual understanding, cooperation, and commerce are essential to the development and peace and stability in this region. To this end, the United States - Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC) was established in 1995 to improve mutual understanding and create bonds of cooperation between the United States and Azerbaijan across a wide range of areas including commercial, cultural, educational, and scientific activities.

USACC is a nonprofit corporation in the District of Columbia and is recognized as a 501 (c)(6) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code.

The USACC is an independent nonprofit American organization whose purpose is to improve and broaden business cooperation, understanding, dialog and the bonds of friendship between the American people and the people of Azerbaijan.

GOALS

To facilitate and encourage trade and investment in Azerbaijan;

To provide a forum for members to interact with policy makers from Azerbaijan and the United States as well as with non-governmental experts.

To serve as a liaison with governmental and non-governmental entities, business organizations, think tanks, and to encourage cooperation and information exchange;

To provide reliable information and networking services and create an environment where partnerships and exchanges thrive;

To sponsor educational programs, trade missions, seminars, conferences and publications to foster cultural and business interests;

To create more understanding and knowledge about the Republic of Azerbaijan in the United States through the Azerbaijan Trade and Cultural Center; and

To develop and maintain humanitarian programs for the refugee population of Azerbaijan.

AZERBAIJAN TRADE AND CULTURAL CENTER

USACC also owns and operates The Azerbaijan Trade and Cultural Center. This four-story historic building is located in the heart of Georgetown at 1212 Potomac Street.

Two floors of the building are designated as Azerbaijan Gallery where we have a permanent exhibition of ethnic rugs, paintings, souvenirs, and crafts from Azerbaijan. Certain pieces of the exhibited artwork are also for sale. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to construct additional schools for refugees in Azerbaijan and sustain the 22 schools already built by USACC.

The Azerbaijan Trade and Cultural Center was inaugurated by His Excellency Heydar Aliyev, President, Republic of Azerbaijan on September 11, 2000.

The new Azerbaijan Trade and Cultural Center significantly expands the mandate of the USACC. We believe it will promote the Azerbaijani culture and create more understanding and knowledge about Azerbaijan in the United States. It will also draw attention to the importance of education, especially the education among the refugee population in Azerbaijan.

We welcome you to visit the Center and Azerbaijan Gallery as of November 1, 2000.

SCOPE

USACC is national in scope in the United States. Its main office is located in Washington, D.C.