Helping Muslim businesses to prosper in a highly competitive environment and responding to the various needs of the growing American Muslim business community, are the main mission of the newly-launched first Muslim chamber of commerce in the U.S.

“One of our Chamber’s primary goals is to ensure a strong and vibrant future for the American Muslim community,” Khalid A. Ahmed, CEO and president of the American Muslim Chamber of Commerce (AMCC), told IslamOnline.net.
The AMCC was established by a group of American Muslim business professionals and individuals to advocate for Muslim businesses throughout the country. “The Chamber will represent the interest of such businesses in the public and private sector,” explains Ahmed.
“It will offer management and technical assistance resources to improve the effectiveness of Muslim owned and operated businesses.”
The Washington-based Chamber offers a variety of networking and counseling programs through one-on-one sessions as well as seminar programs and clinics.
“AMCC’s professional development programs will help members sharpen their skills and give member companies a competitive edge.” The Chamber also aims at help American Muslim businesses make inroad in international markets.
“Many American Muslim businesses have long desired to conduct business with the Muslim world,” notes Ahmed.
“Now, AMCC will provide such a networking opportunity.”
He said they plan to organize foreign trade missions to help American Muslims entrepreneurs explore investment opportunities in the Muslim world.
“For Muslim businesses outside the U.S., the Chamber will seek to be an effective mechanism for penetrating the U.S. market.”
Though there are no official figures, America is believes to be home to nearly 7 million Muslims.
Shortcomings
Ahmed notes that Muslim businesses in the U.S. are largely thriving.
“The small Muslim businesses grow and more entrepreneurs learn to organize bigger businesses.”
He says Muslim entrepreneurs, particularly in the bigger cities, are increasingly establishing small businesses.
Yet, Ahmed laments, many Muslims do not know how to build durable partnerships among themselves to turn their small businesses into bigger corporations.
“Most failures in business partnerships are that the partners often keep inside their hearts what should be discussed openly,” he contends.
“Muslim companies in the U.S. can establish successful and lasting partnerships when the partners discuss beforehand all their individual obligations and the method of sharing profits,” insisted the American Muslim Chamber of Commerce chairman.
“This discussion should be done in a spirit of frankness and trust, and the terms of partnership should be committed to writing.”
There is also the problem of self-confidence, says Ahmed, who is also managing director of the U.S. Reconstruction and Development Corporation.
“Muslim business must develop the confidence to promote themselves and not be afraid of being identified as Muslim,” he stresses.
“They should know that their brothers in the Muslim world are eager to do business with American Muslim businesses.”
(Source: Islamonline.net