America's Enormous Debt - Symptom of a Broken Political System
2018-10-30 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Chicago) | 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

Be Part of Aguascalientes (Mexico) - Business Opportunities Briefing
2019-12-05 17:30 - 20:30 | Consulate General of México in Austin, 5202 E. Ben White Blvd, Suite 150, Austin, 78741, United States
Attend this seminar and learn why Texas companies should consider doing business in Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes belongs to the “Bajío Region” — Mexico’s most important development pole and most influential IT cluster. Sharing the same time zone with Texas facilitates and enables more efficient communications and logistics. Aguascalientes enjoys a demographic bonus with an average population age of 25. As one of the most educated States in Mexico, Aguascalientes features a wide offering of university and technical schools. It has one of the largest ratios of University graduates per 100,000 inhabitants in the country. 35% of these students are enrolled in STEM programs. Aguascalientes also possesses investment grade ratings by both Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings.
Attendees will hear from experts discussing the resources available to successfully grow your company in Aguascalientes.

Featured Speakers
Mr. Luis Ricardo Martínez Castañeda, Secretary for Economic Development at the State Government of Aguascalientes, Mexico;
Mr. Eduardo Alberto Infante Priego, Deputy Secretary for Economic Development at the State Government of Aguascalientes, Mexico;
Mr. Carlos Muñoz Pedroza, General Director for Science, Technology and Innovation for Economic Development at the State Government of Aguascalientes, Mexico;
Mr. Guillermo Ortega, Chief Operating Officer and founder of iTexico

Event Agenda
5:30 pm Registration and Networking
6:30 pm Welcoming Remarks
Mr. Jorge Salcido, Consul General for Political and Commercial Affairs of Austin, TX
Mr. Luis Ricardo Martínez Castañeda, Secretary for Economic Development at the State Government of Aguascalientes, Mexico
6:45 pm Presentation of Aguascaliente’s Competitive Advantages
Mr. Eduardo Infante, Deputy Secretary
7:20 pm Presentation of Aguascaliente’s Environment for Science and Technology.
Mr. Carlos Muñoz, General Director
7:45 pm iTexico Success Story — Guillermo Ortega, COO of iTexico
8:10 pm Closing Remarks — Mr. Eduardo Infante, Deputy Secretary
8:15 pm – 8:35 pm End of Program Networking

Program presented by the Economic Development Ministry of Aguascalientes, Consulate General of Mexico in Austin, World Affairs Council of Austin

Ireland: Creating Space for Business to Grow
2020-03-03 11:45 - 13:00 | BBVA Bank, 1703 W. 5th, Ste. 500, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
Texas and Ireland share a rich history of political, economic, and commercial relations. Texas exports $580 million worth of goods and services to Ireland annually, an impressive amount relative to the country’s population of 4.8 million people. With a GDP of $383 billion in 2018, Ireland is one of the most open, and export-driven economies in the world and the gateway to the European economy. The Celtic Tiger’s GDP increased by 4.3 percent in 2019 and is projected to increase another 3.5% in 2020, reinforcing its position as one of the best performing economies in the European Union.
Attend this seminar to learn more about market growth and the office property market in Ireland and the benefits of serviced/flexible space. Our featured speakers, Mr. Michael Kelly, Managing Director, Glandore and Mr. Henry Daly, Head of Marketing, Glandore will explain how your company may leverage Glandore’s resources and business network for a successful market entry into Ireland and Europe.
U.S. exports of goods to Ireland exceed $10 billion annually. The best prospects are chemicals and pharmaceuticals, computers and electronic products, aircraft and transportation equipment, power generation technology, medical devices, and electrical equipment. U.S. professional service exports to Ireland are also highly valued at more than $49 billion. Over 700 U.S. firms have a presence in Ireland and that number is growing by the day. Attend this seminar and discover how to join your American business colleagues on the Emerald Isle.

Agenda
11:45 am Lunch Buffet
12:00 pm Presentation by Michael Kelly, Managing Director at Glandore and
Henry Daly, Head of Marketing at Glandore
12:45 pm Networking
1:00 pm Meeting Concludes

CxC Amplified Week of Global Issues Webinar Programming
2020-05-07 09:00 - 2020-05-08 21:00
World Affairs Council of Austin members have access to several daily webinars during the week of May 4th including:
4th Ambassador (ret.) Bill Taylor, EVP, U.S. Institute of Peace, and Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine
5th Global Leadership in Crisis featuring General (ret.) David Petraeus, Chairman, KKR Global Institute
5th Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking featuring Lynn Sanchez, The Life Link
6th UN Women Global Champion for Innovation featuring Dr. Nina Ansary, Visiting Fellow, The London School of Economics Center for Women, Peace & Security
6th Current and Future NATO featuring David Epstein, U.S. Department of State
6th Economic Dignity featuring Gene Sperling, Former Director of the National Economic Council under Presidents Obama and Clinton
6th India on the Edge featuring Dr. Manu Bhagavan, Professor of History at Hunter College
6th Our Future in Space – Developments, Commercialization and Governance featuring Evelyn Miralles, Former Chief Principal Engineer, NASA
6th Join a Salsa Lesson with staff from the Embassy of Colombia
6th Balancing Public Health and Privacy Concerns During a Pandemic Response featuring Dr. Sarah Kessler and Michael Tabman
6th Europe in the Age of Corona featuring Ron Granieri, FPRI Templeton Fellow, Executive Director of the Center for the Study of America and the West
7th The U.S. and China Now – Should We Confront or Cooperate? featuring Dr. Yanzhong Huang, Dr. Susan Shirk, and U.S. Representative Ted Yoho
7th The TransAtlantic Agenda During and After the Corona Crisis – What’s at Stake featuring H.E. Emily Haber, Germany’s Ambassador to the U.S.A. and Ambassador (ret.) John B. Emerson, Chairman of the American Council on Germany
7th Coronavirus in Conflict Zones featuring Jarrett Blac, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
7th Libya in Chaos: Origins, Players and Outcomes featuring Ambassador (ret.) Deborah Jones, Former U.S. Ambassador to Libya
7th Eurasian Nightmares: China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Politics of Pandemic featuring Dr. Ian Oxnevad, Editorial Boardmember for the Association of the Middle East and Africa
7th China: The World’s Next Premier Superpower? featuring Ambassador Kishore Mahbubani (Singapore)
8th Putting the World Back Together featuring General (ret.) John Allen, President, Brookings Institution
8th Ambassador (ret.) Ronald Neumann, Former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan

The Opening Plenary session is available for viewing here:

______________________________________________________________

Utilizing the Austin-area Foreign Trade Zone in Turbulent Times
2020-07-15 11:00 - 12:00 | ONLINE
Companies dependent on imports as part of their global supply chains are increasingly concerned with the ongoing volatility of the global trade environment. US trade actions have already imposed penalty duties on Chinese goods, many European goods, and steel and aluminum products, and additional activity is underway which could significantly impact supply chain costs, including:

The imposition of US Sections 232, 301, and 201 tariff measures
Replacement of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
US positioning itself to renegotiate its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments
Future global digital services taxes and potential US retaliation

The US Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ) Program remains an effective tool to mitigate trade disruptions. Companies in Central Texas have access to the program through the Foreign Trade Zone of Central Texas, Inc. (FTZ No. 183), which serves the five Central Texas counties of Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson.
The World Affairs Council of Austin, Ernst & Young, the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association, the Greater Austin Chamber, Greater Austin Black Chamber, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber, Greater Austin Asian Chamber, and the Foreign Trade Zone of Central Texas are inviting executives involved with trade, supply chain, strategy, and tax to a 60-minute webcast providing insight on current and potential future trade disruptions, benefits of the FTZ for manufacturers and distributors, how to access the FTZ program, and suggested steps to evaluate the potential impact of FTZ use.

H.E. Dirk Wouters, Ambassador of Belgium to the USA among featured speakers in July
2020-07-31 13:00 - 14:00 | ONLINE
July —
13th at 3:15pm Making Sense of a World in Crisis — Through the Eyes of a Foreign Policy Expert featuring Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations //
16th at 10am Intelligent Manufacturing in Europe Series featuring Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Czech Republic //
16th at 1pm Qatar and the Gulf Crisis featuring Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Fellow for the Middle East at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and an Associate Fellow of Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Program //
29th at 11am Dubai’s Leading Freezone Can Become Your Gateway to Growth & Expansion //
30th at 10am Intelligent Manufacturing in Europe Series featuring Germany, Austria and Belgium //
30th at 12pm Doing Business in Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia featuring Daniel Gaines, Commercial Service-Kenya; Ned Rauch-Mannino, Senior Advisor for Global Markets; Patricia Wagner, Commercial Service-Tanzania; and Christopher Wilkens, Commercial Service-Ethiopia //
30th at 1pm Belgium, Europe and the United States featuring H.E. Dirk Wouters, Ambassador of Belgium to the USA //

Author Lesley Blume among Speakers in August
2020-08-27 08:00 - 2020-08-31 09:00
August —
6th at 1pm Fallout: The Hiroshima Cover-Up and the Reporter Who Revealed It to the World featuring Lesley Blume, award-winning journalist, historian, and New York Times bestselling author //
11th at 10am International Biz Advantage: Austin & Israel featuring Lior Koriat, CEO at Quali; Ze’ev Lavie, VP at the Israeli Chambers of Commerce; and Limor Nakar-Vincent, Deputy Executive Director at the BIRD Foundation //
13th at 10am Intelligent Manufacturing in Europe Series featuring Italy and Turkey //
14th at 1pm Discussion with Former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry with author Tom Collina //
18th at 10am The Power of Netiquette featuring Philip Sykes, Founder and Principal of the British School of Etiquette //
18th at 11am The Dynamics of Today’s Supply Chain in SE Asia featuring Ambassador Robert O Blake, Jr. //
22nd at 3pm Japan Fest Online Cooking Demo featuring Oita – Austin’s Sister City //
27th at 10am Intelligent Manufacturing in Europe Series featuring Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom //

The Honorable Rachel McCormick, Consul General of Canada, and Brian Haley, Honorary Consul of Canada
2020-09-09 13:00 - 13:30 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin is pleased to host this discussion with the Honorable Rachel McCormick, Consul General of Canada and Brian Haley, Honorary Consul of Canada. Abdallah Mahmoud, Emerging Markets Program Specialist with the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department, will serve as moderator for this special event.

Rachel McCormick is Consul General of Canada to the state of Texas. She was head of the Energy and Environment Section at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC from 2014 to 2019. She joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2004. In Ottawa she worked in divisions responsible for sustainable development, energy, climate change and circumpolar affairs. She represented the Government of Canada in a range of
international forums, including the Arctic Council, the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation and the United Nations. Previously, she held positions within the Canadian energy sector and at the World Trade
Organization in Geneva.
Honorary Consul Brian Haley is the co-founder of CB Capital, an investment and real estate development firm. Prior to co-founding CB Capital, Brian served as a vice president at Limestone Capital Advisors, an Austin based private equity firm founded by Admiral Bob Inman, where he developed and managed energy related opportunities in the United States and Asia.
Abdallah Mahmoud is the Emerging Markets Program Specialist with the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department. Prior to joining the City of Austin. Abdallah has extensive experience working on public/private partnership projects and local development programs.

Kozmetsky Forum featuring Brazil
2020-11-03 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin has partnered with the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence in Global Finance at St. Edward’s University to offer a series of Forums on Global Investment, Finance, Emerging Markets and Geopolitical Risk. The focus of this Forum is Brazil.
Political Officer Ian Brown at the U.S. Embassy in Brazil will serve as moderator for the presentation. Valerie Belon, Economic Counselor, will provide an overview of the U.S. Foreign Service. Joel Reynoso, Deputy Senior Commercial Officer, will discuss commercial engagement in Brazil. Economic Officers Scott Miller, Greg Meier, and Martiza Navarrete will provide brief overviews of the trade and investment, energy, and technology sectors in Brazil.

Conversation with Jordan Price, Honorary Consul General of Malawi
2020-11-12 13:00 - 13:30
Malawi’s Honorary Consul General Jordan Price will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn about events and opportunities in Malawi, as well initiatives in Austin and Texas. This program will be moderated by Abdallah Mahmoud, the City of Austin’s Emerging Markets Program Specialist.

Kozmetsky Forum featuring Melissa Sanderson on Global Business Operations and Investment in Africa
2020-12-01 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin has partnered with the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence in Global Finance at St. Edward’s University to offer a series of Forums on Global Investment, Finance, Emerging Markets and Geopolitical Risk. Our next Forum will feature Melissa Sanderson, former U.S. Foreign Service Officer serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Vice-President of Global Affairs at Freeport McMoRan, Inc; Chair of the Arizona District Export Council; Chair of the Mining Committee, Arizona Mexico Commission; and President of Mel Sanderson Consulting. Ms. Sanderson will discuss her extensive work in the Congo and throughout the world on the topic “Perspective on Global Business Operations and Investment in Africa: Importance of Empathy and Values.”
