A&M International Attends IT&FA Conference in Portugal

Texas A&M International University faculty and staff members joined over 150 international business educators for the Seventh International Conference of the International Trade and Finance Association (IT&FA) in Porto, Portugal May 21-24.

The general theme for the conference was "International Business in the New Millennium." A&M International officials worked closely with the Universidad do Porto in developing the Conference.

Over 24 nations were represented with over 140 papers selected for presentation. Topics explored were grouped into: "International Business and Multi-national Firms," "International Trade and Policy Issues," and "International Capital Markets and Economic Integration."

Several members of the A&M International College of Business Administration presented papers or participated in panels at the Conference.

Dr. Khosrow Fatemi, dean of the College of Busiess Administration, presented a panel on "Pedagogical Issues: Teaching International Business for the 21st Century." Dr. Fatemi has also served as IT&FA executive vice president.

Dr. Balasundram Maniam, associate professor, Department of Economics and Finance, co-presented "International Portfolio Diversification in the East European Stock Markets: A Co-integration Analysis," with O. Feliz Ayadi and Amitava Chaterjee, both of Fayetteville State University.

Dr. Kamal Fatehi, professor and chair, Department of Management and Marketing, presented "Subsidiaries" Control at Multinational Companies: A Theoretical Framework."

Dr. Stephanie A. M. Smith, assistant professor, Department of Economics and Finance, co-presented "A Study of Short-Term Financial Management Techniques Used in 16 Industrial Countries," with Charles Maxwell, Murray State University, and Larry Gitman, San Diego State University.

Dr. Kurt R. Jesswein, associate professor, Department of Economics and Finance, presented "A Tale of Two Cities: To Hedge or Not to Hedge in the New Age of Financial Disclosure."

Duane W. Burdorf, director of the Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development, presented "Imports Through Texas-Mexican Border Ports: 1994-June 1996: An Analysis."

Sue Nichols, director of the Institute for International Trade, was the on-site Conference coordinator.

Previous IT&FA meetings have been held in Marseille, France; Laredo; Miami; Reading, England; San Jose, Costa Rica and San Diego.

Future conference sites will be in Atlantic City, New Jersey and Casablanca, Morocco.

The IT&FA was founded in December 1988. It is dedicated to the promotion and study of international trade and finance by encouraging research in the field through the publication of scholarly work and the sponsorship of regular conferences.

In addition, the organization seeks to encourage the internationalization of economics and business curricula and create a general awareness of the significance of international economic issues, broadly defined.

For additional information on the International Trade & Finance Association, please contact the A&M International College of Business Administration at 326 - 2480 or visit offices in Pellegrino Hall, room 301.

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu