Beyond Borders: Business Opportunities for Exporters
2018-05-17 09:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | State Capitol, 1100 Congress Avenue, Austin, 78701, United States
Tap into the global marketplace by unleashing the power of exporting! Learn how to Increase Working Capital; Enter new markets; Close more export sales and Spread the risk. Hear from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of the Governor, Texas Department Of Agriculture, U.S. Commercial Services & UTSA SBDC International Trade Center about your Export Opportunities on 17 May at 9:00 am in the State Capitol.

SIGN UP here: https://utsa.ecenterdirect.com/events/27929

World Spins Series: China, Innovation and Us
2018-05-22 18:30 - 20:00 | Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel Street, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
Join us for China, Innovation and Us featuring David Firestein, founding director, China Public Policy Center. Throughout his career, Firestein has played an active role advancing U.S.-China and U.S.-Asia trade. He has also produced path-breaking thought leadership, scholarship and Capitol Hill testimony on a range of topics, including U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, U.S.-China infrastructure investment cooperation, and the role of national exceptionalism as a driver of major international conflict today. Firestein is native Austinite who speaks Mandarin at near-native level and has published on what else – country music and diplomacy.

Investor Education Forum for Consumer Products Industry
2018-06-19 10:00 - 14:30 | Capital Factory, 701 Brazos Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin’s Center for Global Trade is a partner organization with SKU, the premiere accelerator for the growing consumer products (CPG) industry.
The consumer products (CPG) industry is hot, and emerging CPG brands present an opportunity for investors, at every stage of the game, to profitably diversify their portfolios. For investors at every stage of the game, emerging CPG brands present an opportunity for a profitably diversified portfolio. However, understanding how to pick winning CPG companies and knowing what to expect as they scale presents a challenge to both new and experienced investors.
Join us as we bring together some of the top Angel, Venture Capital, and Private Equity investors in CPG to listen to their industry insights and learn tips and tricks for investing in the right companies at the right time.
Panelists from: CAVU Venture Partners, Silverton Partners, VMG Partners, 2x Consumer Products Growth Partners, Piper Jaffray, Mark Cuban Companies, Amplify Snack Brands, Diageo, Seed Sumo, and Rhythm Superfoods LLC.
World Affairs Council of Austin members receive a 25% registration discount. Your discount code will arrive in the June member’s newsletter.

Consumer Product Showcase Pitch Event
2018-06-19 17:00 - 21:00 | Brazos Hall, 204 E. 4th Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin’s Center for Global Trade is a partner organization with SKU, the premiere accelerator for the growing consumer products (CPG) industry.
Seven amazing startups and their 60 Mentors have been hard at work preparing the SKU 6 companies to scale. We’re excited to celebrate their progress and listen to their visions for the path ahead.
SKU companies will take the stage to tell their brand stories and make time afterward to meet and greet interested investors and community members.
Company pitches begin promptly at 6:00 pm.
There will be plenty of delicious Austin food and beverage available.
World Affairs Council of Austin members receive a 25% registration discount. Your discount code will arrive in the June member’s newsletter.

CANCELED: Mexico's Perspective on NAFTA Negotiations
2018-06-25 12:30 - 13:30
DUE TO A FAMILY MEDICAL EMERGENCY, OUR SPEAKER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TRAVEL TO AUSTIN

The World Affairs Council of Austin in collaboration with the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Mexico’s Ministry of Economy, and the Texas Camino Real District Export Council, presents an exclusive executive briefing on the NAFTA negotiations featuring Guillermo Malpica Soto, Head of the Trade and NAFTA Office in the Ministry of Economy at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington D.C.
Mr. Malpica will provide an update on the NAFTA negotiations, Texas-Mexico trade, and energy issues. His responsibilities include leading the energy negotiations in the NAFTA discussions.
Guillermo Malpica Soto has served as Mexico’s Director General for International Trade in Services and Investment in Mexico’s Ministry of Economy since 2008. Since then, he has been instrumental in formulating Mexico’s position in these areas in multilateral, regional and bilateral fora, including the Doha Round in the World Trade Organization, the OECD, ALADI, APEC, TISA, the Pacific Alliance and the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). He also led the negotiation of bilateral investment agreements (Agreements for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments) with Singapore, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Haiti, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Ukraine.
Mr. Malpica served as Counsellor in Mexico’s Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization in Geneva in 2007, and as Economic Affairs Advisor in the NAFTA Office of the Ministry of the Economy in Ottawa, Canada in 2006.

International Business Coalition Meeting
2018-07-10 11:45 - 13:00 | BBVA Bank, 1703 W. 5th, Ste. 500, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
The International Business Coalition (IBC) strives to develop international business in central Texas, focusing its efforts on:

Attracting foreign direct investment;
Encouraging international business relocation to central Texas; and
Promoting international trade among central Texas businesses.

This regular meeting of the Central Texas International Business Coalition will include global trade updates.
With gratitude to our partner and host:

______________________________________________________________

Austria to Austin Entrepreneur Welcome Reception
2018-07-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Galvanize Austin, 119 Nueces Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Join the World Affairs Council of Austin, the Office of Science and Technology Austria, and participants of 3 Day Startup’s Austria to Austin program, as they elaborate on their startups and how they hope to become innovation bridges between the U.S.A. and Austria!
Expect:
– young internationally minded Austrian entrepreneurs;
– elevator pitches from industry experts;
– delicious Austrian food and drink!
REGISTER HERE
During their time in Austin, the student entrepreneurs will gain exposure to one of the most innovative cities in America, and learn how to transform their communities back in Austria.
Exchange participants gain familiarity with American culture, access over two-hundred 3DS alumni, mentors, investors, and community members, validate the early-stage businesses they create in every facet of the Austin and San Antonio entrepreneurship ecosystems, and learn how to build robust communities of innovation and creativity through curated site visits and program activities. The skills acquired will enable them to found an international or domestic startup, launch new social impact initiatives, reshape Vienna’s corporate landscape as intrapreneurs, and become community leaders.
The video below provides an overview of this program.

Stop Fakes IPR Protection Conference
2018-08-23 08:30 - 16:00 | State Capitol, 1100 Congress Avenue, Austin, 78701, United States
American companies lose over $600 billion annually due to theft of intellectual property. If you want to learn more about how to protect against piracy of technology and theft of trade secrets, join the World Affairs Council of Austin’s Center for Global Trade, along with experts and attorneys from the Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA) and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) offer this one-day seminar on how companies and individuals can protect and enforce intellectual property to get the most out of exporting abroad.
The STOPfakes.gov Road Show answers your questions about commercializing your creations and innovations, includes strategies for protecting and enforcing a company’s intellectual property when exporting to foreign markets, and advice for avoiding common pitfalls. Participants have the chance to ask export questions related to patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights and domain names.
At the conclusion of each Road Show, participants take advantage of one-on-one consultations with intellectual property experts to get targeted advice. Small and medium-sized businesses in particular benefit from this unique opportunity. More information and seminar registration is available here.

Japan - Texas BizMatch Launch
2018-09-26 09:00 - 16:00 | DOWNTOWN, Austin, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin’s Center for Global Trade has established a partnership with J-GoodTech, a division of Japan’s Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation (SMRJ). The partnership is specially tailored to connect Texan companies to potential customers and partners in Japan. J-GoodTech is comprised of approximately 8,100 qualified Japanese SME members.
This business matchmaking launch event will include representatives of at least 20 Japanese companies seeking Texan partners.
Throughout the summer of 2018, the Center for Global Trade will be screening interested Texas companies to highlight on the web-based platform. Texas companies will be from the targeted industries sectors of Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy & Power Technology, Data Management, Life Sciences, Space Technology, and Creative & Digital Media Technology.
If you are interested in having your company listed on this platform and connecting with businesses partners in Japan, please complete this form.

Third Annual Texas-Latin America Business Summit
2018-10-04 13:30 - 17:00 | IBC Bank Community Suite 13th Floor, 500 W. 5th Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin will present the Texas-Latin America Business Summit on Thursday, October 4th. The Summit brings trade promotion experts and business decision-makers together for panels and meetings. The event is a unique face-to-face opportunity for Austin corporate representatives to make connections and learn about current inbound and outbound business opportunities with Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica, Guatemala, and other nations.
Over the last decade, the region experienced a deep economic and social transformation, which lifted millions out of poverty and swelled the ranks of the middle class. Latin America’s economy is expected to expand 2.0% against a backdrop of stronger global growth. Attend the Summit and learn how your company may benefit from this growth.

DRAFT AGENDA
1:00 PM Registration Opens
1:30 PM Welcoming Remarks
Ben Ramirez, Executive Director, World Affairs Council of Austin’s Center for Global Trade
Shirley Temple, Office of Governor Greg Abbott
1:35 PM Hispanic and Latin American Entrepreneurship (How startups can leverage the region and culture)

Panelists: Valeria Aguerri, Business Development, OPINATOR; Ana Castelan, Digital Trade Marketing Manager, WaveMax; Monica Pena, Founder, MUNDU Media; Sara Mitran, Senior Consultant-Transformational Healthcare, Frost & Sullivan
Moderator: Estuardo Robles, Partner, Briggs Capital
2:45 PM Spotlight on LATAM Founders
Panelists: Adriana Aguilar, Founder, Yuxtem; Carlos Mats, Founder, Xchematic; Nicolene Tashnette Witter, Co-Founder, Enablers of Community Advancement Projects and Initiatives (ECAPI)
Moderator: Bill Hulsey, Principal, HULSEY PC
3:50 PM U.S.-Mexico Trade Agreement
Panelists: Marcelo Lara, CEO, Pro Indie Music; Justin Yancy, President, Texas Business Leadership Council; additional panelists TBC
Moderator: Salvador Castañeda, Partner, Peek Toland & Castañeda PLLC
4:55 PM Closing Remarks

Downtown Parking Options:
http://www.bestparking.com/austin-parking/

America's Enormous Debt - Symptom of a Broken Political System
2018-10-30 12:00 - 13:30 | BBVA Bank, 1703 W. 5th, Ste. 500, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin is pleased to feature Paul Stebbins, of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and the Campaign to Fix the Debt. Mr. Stebbins is a founder and former CEO of World Fuel Services, a Fortune 100 Company.
Mr. Stebbins’ commentary will focus on the fiscal and political environment and how it has never been more perilous. Trillion dollar deficits are set to return within the next two years with our already record high national debt set to skyrocket over the coming decade. The political environment surrounding our debt and federal budget have come to symbolize the brokenness of our political system. Attendees will learn more about the impact of America’s debt on our global competitiveness.
Agenda
12:00 PM Registration and networking

12:15 PM Speaker Presentation followed by Q&A
1:15 PM Additional networking
1:30 PM Event Concludes

Paul H. Stebbins has served as Chairman Emeritus of World Fuel Services Corporation since May 2014 and has served as a director of the Company since June 1995. Prior to his appointment as Chairman Emeritus, from January 2012 to May 2014, Mr. Stebbins served as Executive Chairman of the Board. From July 2002 to December 2011, he served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and, from August 2000 to July 2002, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer. From January 1995 to August 2000, Mr. Stebbins served as President and Chief Operating Officer of World Fuel Services Americas, Inc. (formerly Trans Tec Services, Inc.). From September 1985 to December 1994, Mr. Stebbins was an officer, shareholder and director of Trans Tec Services, Inc., a global marine fuel services company, which Mr. Stebbins co founded in 1985.
In December 2006, Mr. Stebbins joined the board of directors of First Solar, Inc., a NASDAQ company, and currently serves as the chairman of the nominating and governance committee and a member of the audit and compensation committees. Mr. Stebbins is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Amigos de las Americas Foundation of Houston, Texas (amigosinternational.org) and Board of Directors of The Silk Road Project founded by Yo Yo Ma (silkroadproject.org). Mr. Stebbins is a member of the leadership council of Fix The Debt Campaign (fixthedebt.org) and serves on the Energy Security Leadership Council of S.A.F.E. (Securing America’s Future Energy — secureenergy.org).

Yemen: Failed State and Dire Tragedy
2018-11-29 18:00 - 19:30 | Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel Street, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
Yemen is another front that openly exhibits Iran-Saudi Arabia geopolitical rivalry. History has come full circle: Yemen has become to Saudi Arabia what Vietnam was to the United States.
How did Yemen get to this point?
The World Affairs Council of Austin is pleased to have David Oualaalou (pronounced Walalou, known also as Dr. O) discuss the situation in Yemen and its impact on the Middle East.
Dr. David Oualaalou is an international geopolitical consultant, global speaker, award winning educator, author, and former international security analyst in Washington DC. He is also the founder of Global Perspective Consulting headquartered in Dallas, TX.
Dr. O’s unique background allows him to provide current and relevant insight on our world’s greatest challenges and issues within critical economic and security areas. His theoretic and practical real-world knowledge of how geopolitics, global security, energy issues, domestic and international business intersect is founded on his experience as a former international security analyst in Washington, D.C., his doctoral studies, and as a military veteran who worked in the field with elite military forces carrying out operations at the behest of U.S. policymakers.
Dr. Oualaalou is the author of Beneath the Veil: Fall of the House of Saud(2018), Volatile State: Iran in the Nuclear Age (2018), and The Ambiguous Foreign Policy of the United States toward the Muslim World: More than a Handshake (2016).

His editorials have appeared in newspapers and online journals, including The Huffington Post, Al Jazeera, the European Atlantic Council, Middle East & North Africa Forum, and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. Some of his articles have been translated into more than ten languages.

Agenda
6:00 PM Registration and networking

6:15 PM Speaker Presentation followed by Q&A
7:15 PM Additional networking
7:30 PM Event Concludes

Security and Economic Priorities for Africa: Assessments and Recommendations for Developing United States-Africa Policy
2019-02-26 19:00 - 20:30 | St. Edwards University, Jones Auditorium, 3001 South Congress, Austin, TX, 78704, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin, in partnership with the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence at St. Edward’s University, is pleased to present Dr. Monde Muyangwa, Director of the Africa Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars based in Washington, D.C. Dr. Muyangwa, among the leading experts on the diverse continent of Africa, has visited more than 30 African countries and leveraged her experience to address the continent’s most critical issues, as well as U.S.-Africa relations. Previously the longtime Academic Dean at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University, she has been a professor, a nonprofit leader, a development consultant and a Rhodes Scholar.
Dr. Muyangwa’s presentation will focus on providing a broad ranging assessment of security and economic priorities for the continent of Africa and offer her recommendations for the U.S. policy community in crafting policy that might contribute to building productive U.S.-Africa relationships in the future. She will also offer her perspective on potential contributions that the private sector, and civic, and religious institutions can make to foster sustainable development, elevate living standards, and promote peace and security on the continent.

Dr. Muyangwa holds a Ph.D. in International Relations and a B.A. in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Oxford, as well as a B.A. in Public Administration and Economics from the University of Zambia. She is a widely cited authority on governance, security, and development issues who challenges dominant narratives about the continent.

Networking with Flanders Business Delegation
2019-03-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Mort Subite, 308 Congress Avenue, Austin, 78701, United States
Meet with the corporate executives from Flanders visiting SXSW to make business connections in Texas. Texas companies may find counterparts in 5 industry sectors: life sciences & health, food, solution-driven engineering & technology, smart logistics, sustainable resources, and materials & chemistry. This networking event is pursuant to the internationalization strategy ‘Flanders accelerates!
As a region that specializes in R&D and innovation, Flanders attracts companies from around the globe. In 2017, foreign companies initiated 215 projects, involving 5,377 jobs. These figures illustrate the attractiveness of Flanders as a great place to live, work and do business.

United States of America and Republic of Korea Dinner
2019-03-19 18:00 - 20:00
The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Austin is pleased to present a discussion on trade and security featuring the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Harry Harris; The Republic of Korea Ambassador to the USA, Yoon-je Cho; and President of the Korea Institute of America and former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Kathleen Stephens.
Ambassador Harry Harris was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 28, 2018 as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (ROK).
Ambassador Harris commanded the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), now known as the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), from May, 2015 to May, 2018. He is the first Asian-American to hold four-star rank in the U.S. Navy and the first to head USPACOM. Prior to USPACOM, he commanded the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Other operational commands include the U.S. 6th Fleet, Striking and Support Forces NATO, Joint Task Force Guantanamo, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1, and Patrol Squadron 46.
From 2011 to 2013, Ambassador Harris served as the representative of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of State. In this role, he traveled to over 80 countries with the Secretary and participated in most of the Secretary’s meetings with foreign leaders. He also served as the U.S. Roadmap Monitor for the Mid-East Peace Process.
Ambassador Harris was born in Japan and reared in Tennessee and Florida. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1978. He holds master’s degrees from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service. He also did post-graduate work at Oxford University and completed the Seminar 21 fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Ambassador Yoon-je Cho was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the United States of America by President Moon Jae-in in August 2017. He presented his credentials to President Donald J. Trump on November 29, 2017.
Prior to his appointment to the US, Ambassador Cho was dispatched as President Moon’s Special Envoy to the European Union and Germany in May 2017. He previously served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the United Kingdom from 2005 to 2008. From 2003 to 2005, he was an Advisor to President Roh Moo-hyun on Economic Policy. He was a core and advisor for President Moon Jae-in’s 2017 election campaign, heading the thencandidate’s core think-tank, “The Policy Space for People’s Prosperity”.
As one of the most prominent economists in Korea, Ambassador Cho was trained in the Department of Economics at Seoul National University (BA, 1976) and Stanford University (MA and Ph.D. in Economics, 1984). Ambassador Cho began his career as an economist at the World Bank (1984-1989) and the International Monetary Fund (1989-1992). Before returning to the World Bank as Senior Economist in 1992, he also taught at Georgetown University as an adjunct professor.
Ambassador Cho has held various positions in the ROK government throughout his career, including Member of the Financial Sector Development Committee at the Ministry of Finance and Economy (2000-2003), Member of the Policy Board at the Korea Center for International Finance (1999-2001), and Senior Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy (1996-1997). He also served as Vice President of the Korea Institute of Public Finance (1995-1996).
Ambassador (retired) Kathleen Stephens assumed leadership of KEI as President and CEO in September 2018. Ambassador Stephens was a career diplomat in the United States Foreign Service, 1978-2015. She was U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea 2008-2011, the first woman and first Korean-speaker to serve in that position. Other overseas assignments included postings to China, former Yugoslavia, Portugal, Northern Ireland, where she was U.S. Consul General in Belfast during the negotiations culminating in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, and India, where she was U.S. Charge ‘d Affaires (2014-2015).
Ambassador Stephens also served in a number of policy positions in Washington at the Department of State and the White House. These included acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (2012), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (2005-2007), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs (2003-2005), and National Security Council Director for European Affairs at the Clinton White House.
Korea has been a leit motif of Ambassador Stephens’ life and career since she served in rural Korea as a Peace Corps volunteer and trainer, 1975-1977. She was in Korea 1983-1989, first as a political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul reporting on Korea’s domestic political and human rights scene, and later leading the U.S. Consulate in Busan.
Stephens was William J. Perry Fellow for Korea at Stanford University’s Shorenstein Asia Pacific Research Center, 2015-2018. She has also been Endowed Chair Professor for Language and Diplomacy at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, and Senior State Department Fellow at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. She is a Mansfield Foundation Distinguished Fellow, Pacific Century Institute board chairman, a trustee for The Asia Foundation, and on the board of The Korea Society. She is a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Mexico as a Nearshore Base
2019-04-11 17:00 - 20:00 | Max’s, 207 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Tech Startups and other companies looking to build out their teams or those interested in a nearshore option should attend this event.

Agenda
5:00 Registration
5:30 Welcome remarks
5:35 Overview of Jalisco & Austin environments
6:00 Panel Using Mexico as a Nearshore Base
6:30 Networking

World Spins Series: Thinking About Doing Business in China?
2019-04-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel Street, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
On your way to China to do business? “Do your homework,” advises Tyler Johnson, an international business consultant and author of The Way of The Laowai: The Importance of International Self-Awareness for Businesses. “Laowai” (pronounced “laaw wye”) is Mandarin for “old foreigner,” a reminder that culture always trumps business.

Johnson should know. He spent 10 years in Shanghai running Dell’s sales and ultimately the company’s Asia Pacific professional services organization. His tenure, from 2005-2015, coincided with China’s ramp up as a world economic powerhouse and the widespread recognition that companies – especially tech companies – have to be there. The opportunity is both huge and culture-specific:

The Chinese government exerts strong control over the private sector: China has more companies in the Fortune 500 than any country except the United States, and more than half of those firms are controlled by a single government agency.
The consumer market is huge and uses technology: Analysts predict retail sales growth of 7.5% in China and 3.3% in the U.S. for 2019, with China ending the year with total retail sales of $5,074 trillion, exceeding that expected for the U.S. by more than $100 billion, with over half of Chinese retail sales being made by smart phones.

As Johnson discovered, “the way of the laowai” can be a humbling experience. Johnson tells the story of pitching a technology solution to a provincial official and being told “I don’t think you guys understand what we need.” The problem? Sheer volume. In a single day, his prospect’s rural province did more banking transactions than the entire United States.
RSVP and join us!

Invest in Pomerania
2019-05-10 11:30 - 13:00 | BBVA Bank, 1703 W. 5th, Ste. 500, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
Join our next Central Texas International Business Coalition meeting and hear from Invest in Pomerania as they discuss the benefits of investing in this dynamic and ultra-modern, business friendly and ready, region of Poland. A country strategically located in the heart of Europe and the birth place of Solidarity movement led by former president of Poland and Nobel-prize winner, Mr. Lech Walesa.
This region offers:
• A highly educated workforce, with an English proficiency that rivals Germany, France, and Scandinavia
• An industry leading Business Services Sector that provides excellent opportunities for optimizing various operation areas
• World class engineers at your disposal to help you discover solutions for software development in finance and accounting, HR, and customer service through robotic process automation (RPA), big data analysis, and machine learning
• Established R&D activities that will help your biotech/medtech products find their true potential
• A leading hub for automotive, electronics and advanced maritime projects
• A solution to your company’s Brexit woes
• One of the largest port systems in Europe offering regular weekly direct calls with the Far East
• A super-efficient investment support and incentive system

Eighth Annual Texas-EU Business Summit
2019-05-16 08:00 - 17:00 | San Jacinto Meeting Rooms, 309 E 21st St, Austin, TX, 78712, United States
In its 8th year, the Texas-EU Business Summit is the premier event for Texas businesses, entrepreneurs and economic development professionals seeking to expand their footprint in Europe.
Texas is already the largest exporting state to the European Union. The summit builds on that footprint, focusing on promoting the international trade capacity of Texas businesses and economic development organizations while creating greater awareness regarding the benefits of exporting.
The Texas-EU Business Summit sessions are led by business leaders, trade and investment officials from EU countries, trade policy experts and political officials.
Event hosts include:
The Center for European Studies, the University of Texas at Austin,
Austin Community College,
The Consulate General of Ireland in Austin,
The McCoy College of Business, Texas State University San Marcos,
The Greater San Marcos Partnership.

World Spins Series: An Assessment of U.S.-China Relations Midway in the Trump Administration
2019-05-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel Street, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
Two years into the Trump Administration, what is the current state of the U.S.-China relationship? The U.S.-China “trade war” has dominated headlines in both the United States and globally throughout 2018 and into 2019.
But in what ways is the U.S.-China relationship of today different from that of early 2017? In addition, to trade and investment issues, the United States and China have engaged on topics ranging from North Korea, the South China Sea, U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, sometimes agreeing and sometimes disagreeing.

David Firestein, former U.S. diplomat, U.S.-China relations expert and founding executive director of the University of Texas at Austin China Public Policy Center and inaugural president and CEO of the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations, will share his analysis and insights about the state of the U.S.-China relationship at this mid-way point of Trump’s current term in office.
RSVP and join us!

Paving the Way for the Next Generation of U.S.-Japan Collaboration
2019-06-04 08:30 - 12:00 | AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
In collaboration with the U.S.-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange (CULCON), a binational advisory panel to the governments of Japan and the United States, the World Affairs Council of Austin invites you to a symposium for industry leaders, educators, government officials and citizen diplomats to examine developments in science, technology and business.
Please join us for a discussion of how Americans and Japanese can work together to solve shared challenges, and how to nurture the next generation of U.S.-Japan leadership.
8:30-9:00 a.m. Registration
9:00-9:25 a.m. Welcome Remarks

Harry Hill, Outside Director and Member of the Board, New Business Development, Oak Lawn Marketing, Inc.; Chair, U.S. CULCON Panel
Ambassador Ryozo Kato, Former Ambassador to the United States; Chair, Japan CULCON Panel
Hideo Fukushima, Consul-General of Japan in Houston

9:25-10:30 a.m. Blazing Trails in Space and Beyond*

Moderator: Dr. Patricia Maclachlan, Professor of Government and Asian Studies and the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Professor of Japanese Studies, University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Moriba Jah, Associate Professor, Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Department, The University of Texas at Austin
Ms. Josefina Salazar, Brooke Owens Fellow, University of Texas at Austin
Representative of NASA (invited)

10:30-10:45 a.m. Coffee Break
10:45-11:50 a.m. Shaping the Future: High Tech and Design Innovations*

Moderator: Dr. Kaoru (Kay) Shimizu, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Pittsburgh
Mr. Spencer Cronk, City Manager, City of Austin (invited);
Mr. Ben Ramirez III, Vice President and Executive Director, Center for Global Trade at the World Affairs Council of Austin; CEO of Cogitare Global, LLC;
Dr. Motohiro Tsuchiya, Professor, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University; Deputy Director, Keio Global Research Institute (KGRI)
Mr. Brian Kursar, Chief Technology Officer, Toyota Connect (invited)

11:50 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Closing Remarks

Sheila Smith, Senior Fellow for Japan Studies, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR); Vice Chair, U.S. CULCON Panel
Fumiaki Kubo, Professor, Graduate Schools for Law and Politics, University of Tokyo; President, Japanese Association for American Studies; Vice Chair, Japan CULCON Panel

Simultaneous English-Japanese interpretation will be provided
RSVP Required by May 28:

Registration Closes May 28

*additional panelists TBA

Mexico's Innovation Entrepreneur Pitch Night
2019-06-12 18:00 - 21:00 | Consulate General of México in Austin, 5202 E. Ben White Blvd, Suite 150, Austin, 78741, United States
Join us for a Pitch Night celebrating the startups of the Innovation Bridge Mexico-Austin program at the Consulate General of Mexico. The startups pitching represent Mexican innovation across many industries.
After a rigorous selection process, the selected companies spent 10 weeks in Austin, TX in Tech Ranch’s accelerator program. Each startup was selected from a nation-wide call for their impactful solutions, strong teams, and ability to grow in the United States. RSVP to hear how these businesses are changing the world through their work.
Schedule:
6:00pm – 6:30pm – Check-in and refreshments
6:30pm – 7:00pm – Welcome
7:00pm – 8:30pm – Pitches
8:30pm-9:00pm – Reception

Doing Business in Japan
2019-07-13 12:00 - 16:00 | Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road, Austin, 78754, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin is once again a partner organization for the annual Oita Japan Festival! You won’t want to miss the “Doing Business in Japan” seminars during the Festival. The first seminar will start at 1:15 pm the same seminar repeats at 3:15 pm. Texas exported over $6 billion in goods and services to Japan. Japan is also a top five export market for central Texas companies. Be sure to attend this informative session to learn more from our friends at the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
The business focused session will include an overview of Japan’s industry sectors including a look at the Japanese corporate presence in the U.S., Japanese cultural characteristics, promising sectors for U.S. goods and services, and resources for American companies wishing to establish a corporate entity in Japan.
REGISTER HERE for the festival
The World Affairs Council of Austin has launched a B2B platform for Japanese and Texas companies to connect and find business partners. Texas companies seeking to feature their products on the BizMatch online platform may complete the form located here.

Austin-Pune Official Sister City Ceremony
2019-07-24 14:15 - 14:30 | Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
The Austin-Pune Sister City Committee, Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce, the City of Austin and World Affairs Council of Austin invite you to the official signing ceremony launching the Austin-Pune Sister City relationship. Pune is the eighth largest city in India with a population of 4 million. Austin and Pune’s economies rely heavily on the IT and manufacturing sectors. Additionally, Pune is considered the cultural capital of the state of Maharastra and the education capital of India or “the Oxford of the East.”

The Honorable Mayor Mrs. Mukta Shailesh Tilak will be welcomed by the Honorable Mayor Steve Adler and both will make remarks about the future of this relationship.
No RSVPs required, please join us!

USMCA Trade Briefing
2019-08-06 09:30 - 11:00 | BBVA Bank, 1703 W. 5th, Ste. 500, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin, U.S. Commercial Service, BBVA, ITC at UTSA, and the Texas Camino Real District Export Council invite you to a USMCA Trade Briefing featuring David Olsen, Mexico Desk Officer, Office of North America, U.S. Department of Commerce, and Katrice Kelly, Senior International Trade Specialist, Office of Trade Negotiations and Analysis/Industry & Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce.
USMCA was signed on November 30, 2018 and Mexico’s legislative body voted in favor of the new trade agreement last month. Attend this briefing for a general overview of the USMCA and to learn about the next steps in enacting this historic trade agreement.
No Cost to attend, click on the button below to Register Now.

The European Union - Turmoil or Transition? BREXIT vs. Regionalism
2019-08-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel Street, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
Are you curious about the state of the European Union? Reserve your seat now for our next World Spins Series event: The European Union – Turmoil or Transition? BREXIT vs. Regionalism
Yves Dubus

Our guest speaker, Mr. Yves Dubus, Belgian Trade Commissioner in Houston, will help us understand what is taking place in Europe. As you read in the news headlines, the United Kingdom is still trying to resolve Brexit. Italy’s left-right coalition government struggles to maintain its commitment to the EU. Germany’s political realignment and transition to new leadership will have a long term impact on policy and budgetary needs. Many French cities have seen historic protests every weekend since last year. Hungary and Poland want to chart a new path for the EU. Catalan nationalism has been contained for now in Spain. Is Russia fueling all the unrest? Interested in learning more? Join us:

6:00 PM Registration

6:05 PM Speaker Presentation followed by Q&A
7:00 PM Event Concludes

International Political Risk: Implications for Business Leaders with DJ Peterson
2019-09-17 11:45 - 13:00 | BBVA Bank, 1703 W. 5th, Ste. 500, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
In collaboration with the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence at St. Edward’s University, the World Affairs Council of Austin is pleased to present Dr. DJ Peterson at the next meeting of the Central Texas International Business Coalition. Our guest speaker, Dr. DJ Peterson, is President of Longview Global Advisors.
Dr. Peterson has 28 years of research and consulting experience focusing on politics, economics, business, technology, and society. Prior to founding Longview Global Advisors in 2013, he held senior positions at Eurasia Group and The RAND Corporation. DJ earned his PhD in Political Science from UCLA. He is based in Los Angeles.

Agenda
11:45 am Registration
12:00 pm International Political Risk presentation by Dr. DJ Peterson
12:45 pm Networking
1:00 pm Meeting concludes

Fourth Annual Texas-Latin America Business Summit
2019-10-03 13:00 - 17:00 | IBC Bank Community Suite 13th Floor, 500 W. 5th Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Texas – Latin America Business Summit Helps Texas Companies Access Nearshore Expanding Markets

The World Affairs Council of Austin will present the Fourth Annual Texas-Latin America Business Summit on October 3, 2019. Forbes reported in March that LATAM’s economy has the potential to grow faster than that of Asia. The Summit brings trade promotion experts and business decision-makers together for panels and meetings. The event is a unique face-to-face opportunity for Austin corporate representatives to make connections and learn about current inbound and outbound business opportunities with Latin American nations.

DRAFT AGENDA
1:00 PM Welcome by emcee Andrew (Andy) Martinez, Business Development Executive

1:02 PM Nearshoring in LATAM remarks by Anurag Kumar, CEO & Co-Founder, iTexico
1:15 PM Secrets to Success in Latin America

Moderator: Doug Smith, Assistant Director, International Trade Center – UTSA
Panelists: Sebastian Gomez, Trade & Investment Representative, PROCOLOMBIA; Kevin Koym, CEO and Co-Founder, Tech Ranch; and Jake Le, Head of Jala Ventures Colombia
2:20 PM Using Mexico as a Nearshore Base
Moderator: Roy Austin, Business Development Director, The ILS Company
Panelists: Cindy Blanco, Co-Founder & Executive Director, StartupGDL; Alvaro Quezada, CPA, J.A. Del Rio; and Javier Lopez de Obeso, Attorney, ScottHulse
3:25 PM Spotlight on Brazil
Moderator: Bill Hulsey, Principal, HULSEY PC
Panelists: Elizabeth Jennings, Principal, Venture Atlas Labs; Mark MacBeath, Senior Product Manager, PerkinElmer; John L Howard Jr., Director of Global Public Policy, DELL Technologies; and Felipe Costi Santarosa, Deputy Consul General and Head of the Trade Section, Consulate General of Brazil in Houston
4:40 PM Closing Remarks
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Happy Hour Cash Bar Social at Gloria’s Latin Cuisine 300 W. 6th Street, Suite 100, Austin TX 78701

Summit parking suggestions:

http://www.bestparking.com/austin-parking/

With gratitude to our supporting partners:

Business Briefing Featuring H.E. David Bakradze, the Republic of Georgia's Ambassador to the USA
2019-10-09 12:30 - 14:00 | Austin Chamber of Commerce, 535 E. Fifth Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
In recent years, Georgia has been working to strengthen their own technology and innovation ecosystem with the help of the U.S. technology industry. The government of Georgia supported the establishment of entrepreneurial programs StartUp Grind Tbilisi and Georgia’s Innovation and Technology Agency.
H.E. David Bakradze, Ambassador of Georgia to the USA, and his delegation, will provide an overview of specific opportunities available to central Texas businesses.
Georgia is strategically located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Georgia is recognized as one of the easiest places to do business in the world. World Bank’s Doing Business 2019 report placed Georgia in sixth place in the Ease of Doing Business category among 190 countries. The country’s friendly business climate offers access to an un-tapped region of about 200 million people. The business environment continues to strengthen as the government prioritizes reforms and investment in a strong, open economy.
AGENDA
12:30 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Business Briefing with Q&A
2:00 PM Event Concludes

David Bakradze was appointed Ambassador of Georgia to the United States in Washington, D.C. in December 2016. Ambassador Bakradze has a long and distinguished career in diplomatic service. Since 1997, he has served in a number of senior official posts in Georgian public service. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to the U.S., Ambassador Bakradze served as the State Minister of Georgia for Euro-Atlantic Integration. In that role, he was responsible for the coordinating the Government of Georgia’s work on implementing key instruments of integration, such as the EU-Georgia Association Agreement (AA), the Annual National Program (ANP) with NATO, etc. He also coordinated Strategic Communication and European Assistance Programs for the Government of Georgia. Ambassador Bakradze’s career includes a number of notable and senior positions. He served as Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Serbia (2012 – 2014); Senior Counsellor and Chargé d’Affaires in the Republic of Finland (2008 – 2012); Head of First European Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005 – 2008); Counselor and DCM of the Permanent Mission of Georgia to the U.N. (2002—2005); advisor in the National Security Council of Georgia covering Human Rights, Information and Analysis, Law Enforcement Institutions (1997 – 2002); staff member in the press office for the office of the President of Georgia (1996 – 1997). Ambassador Bakradze graduated from Tbilisi State University with a degree in International Economic Relations and International Law. He speaks Georgian, English and Russian.

Accessing the European Market via Dublin
2019-10-29 11:45 - 13:00 | BBVA Bank, 1703 W. 5th, Ste. 500, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
The next meeting of the Central Texas International Business Coalition will feature guest speaker Lorcan Tyrrell, Head of Development at Dublin Airport Central.

Dublin Airport Central is Ireland’s next generation urban quarter, located just 50 yards from Terminal 2 at the Airport. Specifically targeted at international companies who want a European hub office with ease of access to both the EU and US markets, Dublin Airport Central is the ideal location for any US business to start or expand in Europe. With space ranging from serviced offices for your original landing team to a purpose built HQ office building and a dedicated team of community and customer experience managers to ease you into the European market, the development is ideally positioned to allow your business to thrive and grow.
Agenda
11:45 am Lunch Buffet
12:00 pm Presentation by Lorcan Tyrrell, Head of Development at Dublin Airport Central

12:45 pm Networking
1:00 pm Meeting Concludes
