AmCham News No 51 Tom2 - American Chamber of Commerce in ...

Business News
The Official Newsletter of the American Chamber of Commerce in Denmark
Member of the AmCham Network
No. 2 Vol. 7 April 2008
Featured Event:
Meet The Leaders
w/ Villy Søvndal, SF
AmCham Chairman Mark Luscombe, Larry Hochman, and U.S. Ambassador Cain.
Wednesday, April 23
see page 2 Talent Key Topic at Perspectives 2008
AmCham Denmark
welcomes new members:
Patron
Procter & Gamble
Danmark ApS
Patron Upgrade
iMotions
– Emotion Technology A/S
Corporate
Forlaget Thomsen A/S
Associate
Enjoy Living A/S
Martensen Wright
Law Firm ApS
For complete company listings,
see last page.
AmCham Sponsors:
- 1 - AmCham Business News April 2008
The intensifying global demand for
talented labor is hitting Denmark
hard, where there is a low unemployment
rate (2.1 percent), where
work visa regulations are stringent,
and where high tax rates keep away
many highly skilled foreigners.
Given these factors, it’s not hard to
see why many employers in
Denmark feel as if they are huddling
in a foxhole in a raging war for talent.
But such problems are no excuse to
keep enterprises from changing
their attitudes and mounting an
invigorating charge in this war. The
stakes are just too high. That’s how
talent management expert Larry
Hochman sees it. He goes further: A
Continued on page 3.
Issue highlights:
AmCham Welcomes New Board Member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Washington Bureau Chief Assesses 2008 Race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Labor White Paper Presented to Minister for Employment . . . . . . . . . . 6
Prime Minister Addresses U.S. Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Chamber News
AmCham Calendar:
For a complete “Events Calendar”
visit our website:
www.amcham.dk
April
Roundtable w/ Minister
for Taxation Kristian Jensen
Friday, April 4
11:30 to 13:00
(closed meeting)
ESAC 2008 – Executive
Seminars in Analytical
Chemistry
Tuesday, April 15
08:30 to 16:00
The Faculty of Life Sciences,
University of Copenhagen
OSAC
Crime & Safety in Denmark
– What Your Company
Needs to Know
Thursday, April 17
09:00 to 11:00
U.S. Embassy
Business Breakfast
Meet The Leaders
w/ Villy Søvndal, SF
Wednesday, April 23
8:30 to 10:30
Deloitte
May
Business Breakfast
Meet the Leaders
w/Minister
for Health & Prevention
Jakob Axel Nielsen
Friday, May 9
08:30 to 10:30
Radisson SAS
Scandinavia Hotel
- 2 - AmCham Business News April 2008
Meet Villy Søvndal
AmCham Denmark invites you to
join us for an exclusive "Meet the
Leaders" session with SF Party
Leader Villy Søvndal on Wednesday,
April 23.
After a clear victory in the last election,
the Socialist People's Party (SF)
has continued to strengthen its
influence in the Danish parliament.
In a recent poll, SF has overtaken the
Social Democrats in popularity,
establishing Villy Søvndal as the
leading voice of opposition to the
current government.
AmCham Denmark welcomes a new member to its
board of directors: Paul Schofield, general manager,
Hess Denmark. Paul comes to the board with wide international,
operational and project management experience.
His past successes have ranged from team building
to improving management information and data
processes. Paul will also chair AmCham’s OSAC
Denmark Country Council. AmCham is honored to have
Paul as a member of the board and we look forward to
his expertise and input.
Villy Søvndal,
Leader of the
Socialist
People’s Party
(SF).
But where does SF stand on key
issues such as ensuring Denmark's
future competitiveness and alleviating
the shortage of highly qualified
labor? Find out.
Register now on www.amcham.dk
AmCham Welcomes New Board Member
AmCham Wants to Hear From You
Paul Schofield,
Hess Denmark.
AmCham executives met with representatives
from the Ministry of Immigration &
Integration to discuss areas affecting the
shortage of labor. Based on the outcome, a
second meeting has been arranged to take
place at the Ministry to hear AmCham
member companies’ feedback on the proposed
Green Card point system and to hear
about other countries’ innnovative immigration
processes.
If you have feedback or best practice examples, please contact AmCham
at 33 932 932.

Event Review
Talent Key Topic at Perspectives 2008, continued from page 1.
shortage of workers? There is none!
“There is only a shortage of great
organizations where the best people
want to work.”
Hochman raised these and many
other provocative points at his
keynote address during AmCham
Denmark’s Annual General Meeting
on March 12, hosted by KPMG in
Frederiksberg. His presentation came
as AmCham released “Winning the
Global Talent War,” an exclusive
report on this important topic.
Hochman said enterprises can win
the war by bringing employees – as
well as customers - into their organization
and culture as active participants,
he believes. In fact, doing so
is “perhaps the most exciting longterm
opportunity for change and
innovation ever.”
Today’s most
desirable employees
share a characteristic
with
today’s most
desirable customers, Hochman
argued. Both want the freedom to
contribute to reputable enterprises.
“Collaboration is the hallmark of
future value with both.”
Hochman said that managers need
to ask themselves four questions in
order to start the process of winning
the global war for talent:
• Where do we find the best and
the brightest?
• How do we keep them?
• How and what can we learn from
them?
• How do we profit from them?
- 3 - AmCham Business News April 2008
“What’s the next courageous
decision you are
going to make?”
Larry Hochmam challenges executives to be courageous.
According to Hochman, finding the
best answers takes courage. So does
designing, implementing, and carrying
through to success real-world,
comprehensive strategies based on
those answers. He asked audience
members, “What’s the next courageous
decision
you are going to
make?”
Touching on local
– Larry Hochman issues, he added,
“Companies can
help integrate the non-ethnic Danish
workforce by leading by example.”
Hochman urged companies to be
public about their efforts in this area.
“If you don’t break down the barriers,
who will?”
Hochman’s appearance was the first
of AmCham Denmark’s annual
Perspectives series, in which distinguished
experts will share insights
on what AmCham’s Stephen
Brugger called “topics your company
can’t ignore.”
To see video clips, go to www.amcham.dk
AmCham members gain insight on the
war for talent.
AmCham board members Jørgen
Bardenfleth and Torben Juul Andersen.
Sponsored by

Event Review
AmCham members gain valuable insight into the 2008 presidential race.
Washington Bureau Chief
Assesses 2008 Race
Although John McCain may have
the edge right now, all bets are off in
the highly unusual 2008 presidential
race.
That’s how Richard Dunham sees it.
The Washington bureau chief of the
Houston Chronicle – who has covered
every presidential campaign
since 1980 – shared his insights with
about 60 guests at AmCham’s
March 27 Business Breakfast election
event at the Copenhagen
Marriott.
Dunham cited various polls that
indicate that 2008 looks very
much like a Democratic year. But
in the end, the election may end
up being more about people than
concepts or party preferences, he
said. Preference polls naming the
actual candidates show a very
close race.
The bottom line, according to
Dunham: McCain’s strengths may
carry him to the White House, but
this is far from certain in what has
turned out to be the most unusual
and unpredictable campaign that
the journalist has ever covered.
- 4 - AmCham Business News April 2008
McCain, Obama and Hillary Clinton
all have their strengths and weaknesses.
For example, McCain’s strengths
include his support among independent
voters, and the fact that
most voters – including a sizable
number of Democrats – like him and
see him as strong. Additionally, as the
presumptive Republican nominee,
McCain has the advantage of defining
himself to voters now, while the
Democrats continue their pitched
battle for the nomination.
The economy may favor either the
Democrat or the Republican nominee
in November. It will depend on
how voters in November define the
economy, Dunham said. The economy
can mean many things, depending
on the situation concerning
jobs, the housing and credit crisis,
the middle-class squeeze (including
college costs, gas prices and healthcare),
globalization, individual and
business tax rates, government
spending, immigration and guest
workers, business and investment,
and innovation and R&D.
During a wide-ranging Q&A session,
guests asked about how national
Scott Berman presents historical precedents
to the current candidates and voter
tendencies.
Washington Bureau Chief Richard
Dunham enlightens AmCham members
on the 2008 presidential race.
security issues could impact the outcome
in November, possible vice
presidents, McCain’s temperament,
media coverage of Obama’s policy
positions, the election outlook in the
U.S. Congress, and the merits of the
primary system.
Brugger urged members to keep up
to speed on the 2008 race by following
Campaign Comment, AmCham
Denmark’s continuing series of
exclusive articles taking a look at the
2008 race as it unfolds.
For complete U.S. election coverage, go
to www.amcham.dk
Sponsored by

Chamber News
AGM Reviews a Pivotal Year, Looks Ahead
AmCham Denmark has reviewed
accounts, approved its budget,
named its board, and set goals to
build on the successes of 2007.
The actions came at the Chamber’s
Annual General Meeting (AGM),
hosted by KPMG. The session was
efficiently shepherded by AGM chair
Marianne Granhøj, partner,
Norrbom Vinding.
It was a pivotal year for AmCham,
said Chairman Mark Luscombe, Citi.
The Chamber’s retention rate for
core members was high (96.3 percent),
he noted, and there was a net
gain of 18
members - total
membership
reached 287 by
the end of
2007. AmCham
Treasurer Søren
Holm, Hess,
reviewed accounts that show
AmCham strategically using
resources to fortify its staff and take
on an ambitious policy agenda.
There was progress in a number of
strategic initiatives on behalf of
members, sessions with key decision
- 5 - AmCham Business News April 2008
The AmCham Denmark Board of Directors at the AGM.
makers, policy summits, targeted
surveys, and speaking out on behalf
of trade and
economic
growth in
Denmark.
Luscombe
pointed out
event highlights
for the year,
including AmCham’s successful
Foreign Investors Summit. “We are
getting traction – and getting the
ears of senior government officials,”
said Luscombe.
Executive Director Stephen Brugger
called 2007 “a banner year.” He
AmCham Thanks Departing Board Members
Eskil Westh,
Amrop Hever.
“We are getting traction –
and getting the ears of senior
government officials.”
– Mark Luscombe, AmCham Chairman
Michael Smiley,
Tellabs Denmark.
Jørgen Engell,
A.P. Møller – Maersk.
AGM chair Marianne Granhøj, Norrbom
Vinding, with AmCham Chairman Mark
Luscombe, Citi.
thanked the staff of the U.S. Embassy,
AmCham’s board of directors,
Chamber staff, and especially
members, for making the year successful.
Jørgen Engell, Eskil Westh and
Michael Smiley have been a great
asset to the AmCham Denmark
board of directors. As they depart
the board, AmCham thanks them
for their support, work and dedication.

Chamber News
Labor White Paper Presented to Minister of Employment
AmCham executives hosted an executive
roundtable session with the
Danish Minister for Employment
Claus Hjort Frederiksen and members
of his team. The main purpose of the
March 4 meeting was to discuss
AmCham's recommendations on
how to alleviate the shortage of highly
qualified labor and to hear about
the government’s new Job Plan.
“It is not simply an issue of barriers to
get foreign workers into Denmark,
but an issue of the attractiveness of
Denmark as a destination for highly
qualified workers - ranked 22nd in
the most recent IMD survey,” said
Brugger.
- 6 - AmCham Business News April 2008
Participants from AmCham member
companies acknowledged the
positive steps in the new Job Plan,
mostly in line with AmCham’s recommendations,
but stressed the
need for a long term strategy on
education and tax to ensure a supply
of highly qualified labor in the
future.
In response to the persistent labor
shortage faced by both foreign and
domestic companies, the Minister
Frederiksen said that 2007 was a turning
point in the mentality of Danes
towards foreign recruitment. The
political tide has changed, making it
easier to handle labor issues. The
Roundtable
Participants (clockwise
from left):
Bill Allen, Niels
Christian Furu,
Mark Luscombe;
Scott Dille, Rikke
Maria Harhoff,
Minister for
Employment Claus
Hjort Frederiksen,
and Søren Møller
Andersen.
result is the new Job Plan. The
Minister highlighted the key changes:
an easier to use Green Card, a market
based Positive List that tracks professions
in demand, a corporate visa program
to approve companies to bring
in the skills they need, and a more
attractive expatriate tax program.
In response to a long term strategy
to supply highly qualified labor, the
Minister said that a labor market
commission, as well as a tax commission,
has been created. Both
commissions will present structural
recommendations in 2009 that are
aimed at better aligning Denmark
with the trends of globalization.
Roundtable Meetings Target Issues Impacting Business
With the launch of AmCham's White Paper, focused on solutions to the
shortage of highly qualified labor, AmCham has arranged a series of roundtable
meeting with key governmental decision makers. Having already met
with the Minister for Employment and representatives from the Immigration
& Integration Ministry, AmCham will continue to voice our member's concerns
and the issues impacting their businesses with follow-up meetings at
the Immigration & Integration Ministry, with the Minister for Taxation, and
with the Ministry for Health & Prevention. If your company has issues, let us
know by calling AmCham at 33 932 932.

Chamber News
AmCham Co-hosts Prime Minster at U.S. Chamber
On February 28, the Danish Prime
Minister spoke at the U.S. Chamber
of Commerce. The speech entitled
'Meeting Global Challenges:
Strengthening the Transatlantic
Partnership', marked the beginning
of Minister Rasmussen’s three day
visit to Washington and President
Bush’s private residence in Crawford,
Texas.
In his address at the Chamber of
Commerce, the Danish Prime
Minister focused on transatlantic economic
cooperation; climate and
energy; and how to meet political
and security policy challenges. The
Prime Minister gave the speech in
front of around 100 invited guests
and press. The event was co-sponsored
by AmCham Denmark and the
American-Danish Business Council.
“AmCham is honored that the Prime
Minister chose
to speak at the
U.S.
Chamber,”
said Stephen
Brugger.
“Prime
Minister
Rasmussen's
choice of the
Chamber underlines the importance
of a strong transatlantic partnership.”
During the 40 minutes long speech,
Prime Minister Rasmussen discussed
ways of furthering transatlantic free
trade and open investments with a
view to strengthening the transatlantic
economic partnership
between the U.S. and the EU.
- 7 - AmCham Business News April 2008
“Prime Minister Rasmussen’s
choice of the Chamber
underlines the importance
of a strong transatlantic
partnership.”
AmCham Executive Director Stephen Brugger and the U.S. Chamber’s Daniel Christman
welcome the Prime Minister and Danish Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen.
The Prime Minister addressed three
main issues to create a strong transatlantic
partnership: trade, energy and
security.
“The United States and Europe are
core partners and allies. But the ultimate
goal is
not to engage
in an exclusive
transatlantic
cooperation.
Our common
values and
interests are
not confined to
a certain geographic
area. They are widely shared
with other democracies and peoples
throughout the world.”
– Stephen Brugger, AmCham Denmark
Prime Minister Rasmussen also spoke
about major political and security policy
issues confronting the EU and the
U.S. and emphasized the importance
of strong transatlantic cooperation
and institutions such as NATO in
Danish Prime Minister, Anders Fogh
Rasmussen addresses the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce members in Washington DC.
Former AmCham Chairman Paul
Coleman greets Prime Minister
Rasmussen.
addressing major challenges in
Afghanistan and elsewhere. The development
of a European Security and
Defence Policy illustrates the readiness
of the EU to pursue a more active global
role and holds the potential for further
cooperation with the U.S.

New Members
AmCham Welcomes 4 New Members and 1 Member Upgrade
Patron:
Gerry Kingham,
Managing Director
Procter & Gamble
Denmark ApS
Teglholm Allé 15
2450 Copenhagen
Tel: 33 26 91 00
Website: www.dk.pg.com
Main Areas of Business:
Consumer Products
Business markets: Global
Contact: Gerry Kingham,
Managing Director
AmCham Denmark’s
2008 Yearbook
– hot off the press.
If you have not yet received your copy,
contact AmCham.
Thanks to Sponsors:
Avis Biludlejning
Hess Denmark
Burson-Marsteller
Icelandair
CityMail Denmark
Lexmark
Coca-Cola
Managing Editor: Scott Dille
Writer: Scott Berman
Layout & Design: Woer|Gregorius
Printed on:
Motorola
Copenhagen Marriott Hotel
Møbeltransport Danmark
Ernst & Young
Resources Global Professionals
Ford Motor Company
UPS
- 8 - AmCham Business News April 2008
Patron Upgrade:
Peter Hartzbech,
CEO & Founder
iMotions -
Emotion Technology A/S
Vestergade 18E
1456 Copenhagen K
Tel: 36 44 89 33 Fax: 36 45 89 33
Website: www.imotions.dk
Main Areas of Business:
Development and production of
emotion sensitive software
Business markets: Scandinavia,
Europe & the U.S.
Contact: Peter Hartzbech,
CEO & Founder
AmCham Business News
The American Chamber of Commerce in Denmark (AmCham Denmark) is a non-profit,
non-governmental, business association representing more than 280 companies actively
investing in Denmark. AmCham Denmark is committed to building a competitive, sustainable
foreign investment environment in Denmark, and to doing its part to minimize barriers
to trans-Atlantic trade.
Contact Information:
AmCham Denmark • Christians Brygge 26
DK - 1559 Copenhagen V
Phone (+45) 33 932 932
Fax (+45) 33 932 938
mail@amcham.dk
www.amcham.dk
Corporate:
Thomas Hegelund,
Managing Director
Forlaget Thomsen A/S
Nytorv 5
1450 Copenhagen K
Tel: 33 74 07 02
Website: www.thomson.dk
Main Areas of Business: Publishing
for legal and tax professionals
Business markets: Denmark
Contact: Thomas Hegelund,
Managing Director
Associate:
Enjoy Living A/S
Christians Brygge 28, 1.
1559 Copenhagen V
Tel: 51 33 93 31
Website: www.enjoy-living.dk
Main Areas of Business: Real estate
development and investment
Business markets:
Europe & North America
Contact: Claus Røhman,
Director, Partner, COO
Martensen Wright
Law Firm ApS
Valnøddevej 4
9850 Hirtshals
Tel: 98 99 00 09 Fax: 98 99 00 04
Website: www.usa-eurolaw.com
Main Areas of Business: Danish /
American Business Law
Business markets: Denmark & USA
Contact: Finn Mortensen, Attorney