9th Annual Trade and Investment Conference Set at TAMIU WHTC March 10 - 12

The future of trade and investment throughout the Americas will be the topic of discussion during Texas A&M International University College of Business Administration Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade's three-day conference Wednesday, March 10 through Friday, March 12.

The Conference, entitled "Trade and Investment in the Americas: The Challenge of Globalization" will include over 20 presenters, including Mexican Consul Daniel Hernández Joseph on Wednesday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Western Hemispheric Trade Center (WHTC), room 116.

Dr. Sidney Weintraub, The Williams E. Simon Chair in Political Economy, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C. will be a keynote speaker and will discuss "Fighting or Exploiting Globalization: Development in Latin America" at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, March 11 in WHTC 116.

On Thursday, March 12, a panel presentation entitled "US-VISIT Visa Program and Its Impact on Border Economies" will be chaired by John Adams, executive director of the Laredo Development Foundation and will include Jim Williams, director of the US-VISIT Program, P.T. Wright, CBP executive director of the US-VISIT Program, Gene Garza, port director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Gerry Schwebel, executive vice president, International Bank of Commerce, and Dr. J. Michael Patrick, interim dean, TAMIU College of Business.

The College of Business Administration's Ph.D. Global Advisory Board will be honored at a dinner reception at International Bank of Commerce's Lago del Rio at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 11 and the board will address Conference participants at 8:30 a.m., Friday, March 12.

Registration fee for the two day conference is $100 and includes meals. Those desiring to attend just one luncheon address can register for $25. Attendance to sessions other than the luncheons is free of charge.

Advance registration is required. For more information about the Conference's many other events, please contact Virginia Vincent, associate director of the Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade, at 956.326.2820.