FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2007
Contact: Susan Miller
317-816-9760 ext. 247
smiller@hickmanassociates.com
Navigating Business with China, How and Why?
ISU’s Networks Financial Institute co-sponsors conference
(Jan 5, 2007, INDIANAPOLIS) – Indiana State University’s Networks Financial Institute and Liaoning University will present “China: A Two-Way Street” at the Westin Hotel, Indianapolis, Jan. 24-25. The conference will bring together internationally-recognized experts on U.S./China business and business leaders to address the strategic and economic benefits of doing business in China, as well as the legal, operational, and financial considerations faced by U.S. companies conducting business in China. Experts also will address how Indiana businesses can attract Chinese investors.
The first day of the conference will focus on the strategic benefits and operational basics of US companies conducting business in China and Chinese companies conducting business in Indiana. Participants will learn from experts and executives who have succeeded in their bi-lateral strategies. Keynote speakers at the China Forum include Ted Fishman, author of the bestseller China, Inc.: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World, and Jack Perkowski, founder and CEO of China’s leading auto parts manufacturer, ASIMCO, one of the most successful Western-owned businesses in China. In addition, attendees will hear from executives from Cummins International, Reilly Chemical, Kimball International and Rolls Royce.
The second morning of the conference will focus on China’s economy and financial future. A panel of experts with first-hand experience in Chinese banking and finance will analyze strengths and weaknesses in the Chinese financial system, the pace of economic reform, and how China’s financial sector may impact the pace of Chinese economic growth. Paul C. Lo, CEO of Bank SinoPac Holdings, Taiwan will be among the presenters. Mr. Lo, who holds a master of business administration degree from Indiana State, founded Bank SinoPac, recognized by Asiamoney as “The Best Commercial Bank in Taiwan.”
Organizers aim for the conference to provide practical insights for businesses seeking to develop or expand their business relations with China. Several of the panelists and moderators have facilitated economic and business relationships between U.S. and Chinese firms.
“This conference will inform policymakers about present and future opportunities that can result from developing a relationship with China and will demonstrate to the business community the benefits of conducting business with the Chinese, particularly in partnering for capital investment or trade,” said ISU President Lloyd W. Benjamin III.
“It will be the first conference to explore the potential for capital to flow from China to the U.S., and specifically to Indiana,” Benjamin noted.
Groundwork for the conference was laid in August when Benjamin and Gaston Fernandez, executive director of ISU’s International Affairs Center, visited Liaoning University during a 10-day trip to China. Details of the conference were finalized during a November visit to ISU by Liaoning University President Cheng Wei.
“China presents tremendous economic opportunities for U.S. businesses, especially those here in the Midwest. However, there is much ambiguity when it comes to navigating the bureaucratic and economic infrastructures that dictate much of Chinese/U.S. business,” said Jack Tatom, director of research at Networks Financial Institute.
Registration for the China Forum on January 24-25 is $75 per attendee or $500 for a corporate table of eight, and includes lunch on the 24th. Special rates apply for academia, students and government employees. The Financial Forum on January 25th is free of charge. The registration deadline is January 17, and may be made by calling (317)536-0281 or 1-800-603-7113 or online at www.isunetworks.org.
Networks Financial Institute at Indiana State University was founded in 2003 with a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. The non-profit organization strives to facilitate a more effective national and international financial services marketplace through education, outreach and research. Networks Financial Institute is headquartered in Indianapolis with offices on the campus of Indiana State University in Terre Haute and outreach in Washington, D.C., and internationally. For more information about Networks Financial Institute, visit www.isunetworks.org.
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