BYU Ambassadorial Insights Lecture Series Brings Foreign Ambassadors to Utah

By Erin Stewart
Freelance Writer

As BYU’s model United Nations team headed off to New York several years ago, they were prepared to represent Russia by the man who knew all the ins and outs of the country –- Russian Ambassador Yuli M. Vorontsov.

A former ambassador to the United Nations, Vorontsov clued the BYU students in regarding U.S.-Russian relationships and answered questions about how U.S. decisions impacted Russia’s view of American politics.

“How many students really have the opportunity to hear first-hand from an ambassador?” asks Erlend Peterson, associate international vice president at BYU. “There’s the educational opportunity of being in a lecture where you have a senior government representative to the United States speaking on the contemporary issues between the U.S. and that country.”

Such experiences lie at the heart of the BYU Ambassadorial Insights Lecture Series, which aims to bring country representatives to Utah to teach students, meet with state leaders and foster personal relationships between foreign countries and the state.

“We’re looking at countries that are of highest importance to the parties involved: to the state, to BYU, to businesses. So we’re looking for key players that we’re really following,” Peterson says.

The program started in 1996 as part of Utah’s Statehood Centennial Celebration and brought 42 ambassadors to Utah. More than 50 invitations were originally sent to countries that topped the list of Utah’s trade partners. Read more...

‘An Uncertain World’ - 2008 Global Business Series

Westminster College's Center for China-America Business Studies and Catalano & Co. Management Consultants are sponsoring "An Uncertain World," a series of three informative business events designed to increase Utah business' global presence. The events are designed to introduce, inform and connect mid-size businesses, professionals and business executive. Each will feature hands-on training, case studies as well as expert speakers from a variety of international trade disciplines, including the World Trade Center of Utah and the Governor's Office of Economic Development.

Internationalize Your Business: Going Global in Two Easy Lessons

Monday, May 5 and 19. $59 for both sessions, continental breakfast included. These two, three-hour seminars focus on making exporting and global sourcing part of your everyday business. Topics will include identifying sourcing and distribution partners, financing, marketing, branding, packaging, logistics, customs regulations and more. Designed for small to mid-sized businesses, this is an extension of Catalano & Co.'s recent "Importing the Right Way" seminar.

The ABC's of Expanding Your Business: The Case of China

Friday, June 27. $99 per person, breakfast and lunch included. Are you exploring business opportunities in China? Learn the basic but crucial information on how to expand your business in China in four main areas: (1) legal, (2) financial, (3) local government relationships and (4) agency. This full-day seminar will be led by Dr. Christopher S. P. Tong, professor of economics and director of the Center for China-America Business Studies (CCABS), and other domestic and Chinese experts who possess impressive practical experience in the four areas being discussed.

International Business Connection Forum: Making Things Happen

Friday, August 22. $199 per person, breakfast and lunch included. This is a full-day executive program focused on current trends and best practices for Utah global businesses. Build your global business by learning from and with your colleagues. The program will include speakers representing business, Westminster College, the State of Utah, the World Trade Center of Utah and planned international trade representatives.

Westminster College Certificates of Completion will be awarded to all participants of these events. All events will be held at Westminster College, 1840 South 1300 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84105. Click here for more information and click "Seminar Schedule." If you are interested in sponsoring or participating in any of the series' events, contact Dr. Christopher Tong at ctong@westminstercollege.edu  or John Catalano at john@jgcatalano.com  for additional information.

"Currently Panama’s average agricultural tariff rate is 15 percent, but many key U.S. export products face much higher rates. Tariffs on meat can be as high as 70 percent, grain tariffs as high as 90 percent, and Panama’s tariff on chicken leg quarters is 260 percent. In contrast, under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) legislation passed by Congress in 1983, over 99 percent of Panamanian exports to the United States enter duty- free." Source: International Trade Administration

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