Vienna can serve as a gateway to Eastern Europe for U.S. firms

Business America, August 13, 1990

U.S. Embassy in Warsaw Launches Gold Key Service

The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, launched a Gold Key Service last month. The program is modeled after similar programs in place at foreign posts in Western Europe and is a premier feature of Warsaw's efforts to serve U.S. business the way it is served in western markets. The Gold Key Service is a program that is custom-tailored to each participating company. US&FCS staff identify and pre-screen potential business partners for the company and set up a schedule of meetings for the firm's visit to Poland.

"I got my money's worth," commented Mr. Frank Chillemi, Director of Business Development, Eastern Europe, for Lanier Worldwide, Inc., of Atlanta, Ga., and the first user of the service. "I could not have accomplished what I did in two days without the help of the Embassy's U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service. I saved enough in time and money, which would have been spent on added days at the hotel, to pay for the service. The people the program introduced me to know Poland. I made valuable contacts, and I learned enough to evaluate my firm's strategy for entering the Polish market."