Car Rental - American Chamber of Commerce in Denmark

Amcham Denmark’s policy efforts
gained momentum in 2009
starting with the January Board
of Directors’ round table with
then Prime Minister Anders Fogh
Rasmussen. AmCham’s efforts
and access to key decision makers
continued throughout the year,
communicating members’ issues
at several key opportunities and
paving a solid path for a stronger
voice for international business in
2010.
Some important policy highlights
of 2009 include round
table meetings with Margrethe
Vestager, Social Liberal Party
Leader in February; Minister for
Business and Economic Affairs,
Lene Espersen, in May; Minister
for Education, Bertel Haarder,
in September; and Minister for
Justice, Brian Mikkelsen, in November.
Each of these meetings
focused on communicating the
issues that face internationally
operating companies in Denmark,
Danish and non-Danish, as they
pursue solutions to Denmark’s
shortage of highly qualified labor.
Policy & Advocacy – Access to Key Decision Makers
These meetings have spurred
action in several areas including
non-EU driver’s license exchange
and international school capacity.
Additionally, AmCham’s Healthcare
Committee dedicated 2009
to pushing for solutions to issues
in the Danish healthcare system,
specifically those issues that
prevent the timely integration of
innovative treatments and the
practices involved in performing
clinical trials that prolong and
complicate the process. In a round
table meeting with Minister for
Health and Prevention Jakob Axel
Nielsen in April the committee
outlined the challenges and the
real threat of diminishing investments
in Denmark if these issues
are not addressed. To further
emphasize their importance, Am-
Cham dedicated the 2009 Foreign
Investors Summit to these issues.
“Diagnosing the Danish Healthcare
System” was held in September
in the historic Landstingsal in
Christiansborg and featured
focused discussions with both politicians
and the General Director
for the Danish National Board of
Health, Jesper Fisker.
To round out the year, Am-
Cham presented its 2009 Foreign
Company of the Year award to Iron
Mountain A/S at the traditional
Ambassador’s reception at Rydhave
in October. A true testament
to the contributions that international
business makes to Denmark,
Iron Mountain’s Managing
Director Søren Eltorp, eloquently
accepted the award on behalf of
the company’s employees, partners,
and loyal customers.
Danish National
Board of Health
General Director,
Jesper Fisker,
presents the
challenges and
dilemmas to the
Danish healthcare
system.
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