TAMIU's Western Hemispheric Trade Center Dedication Set Tuesday, March 26

Formal dedication ceremonies for Texas A&M International University's Western Hemispheric Trade Center will be held Tuesday, March 26, 2002 at 11 a.m.

Keynote speaker for the event will be U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

The opening of the new Center signals the University's continued research prominence in trade issues of the Western Hemisphere, said A&M International president Dr. Ray Keck.

"The dedication of this 55,000-square-foot facility is part of the University's Phase III expansion, and will facilitate research, promote education and provide relevant information on the hemisphere's most dynamic world market," Dr. Keck said.

Dedication ceremonies will be open to the public and in addition to local and state dignitaries, will include members of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. Also invited are national and international government representatives. A reception in the Center lobby will follow the opening.

Joining Sen. Hutchison in providing special remarks will be Bishop James A. Tamayo, Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores, U.S. Congressman Henry Bonilla, State Senator Judith Zaffirini, State Representative Tracy King, State Representative Richard Raymond, County Judge Mercurio Martinez, Jr.; Erle Nye, Chairman of The Texas A&M University Board of Regents; Dr. Dionel Aviles, Vice Chairman, The Texas A&M University Board of Regents; A&M Chancellor Howard D. Graves and David Killam, representing the Killam Family.

The WHTC will regularly attract some of the world's top researchers on trade issues and will host a variety of conferences focusing on the Western Hemisphere and its social, business, political and cultural components. Its public conference and classroom spaces are state-of-the art and feature distance and multi-media capabilities.

In addition, it will be home to the Western Hemispheric Trade Information Center (WHTIC) which includes a constantly updated electronic database; the monthly Western Hemispheric Trade Digest and the quarterly International Trade Journal: Western Hemispheric Studies.

For additional information on the March 26 dedication of the Western Hemispheric Trade Center, please contact the Texas A&M International University Office of Public Affairs and Information Services.

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