Global Business Forum Will Address the Middle East in the World Economy from March 14 to 18

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Media contact: Eric Eckert, (254) 710-1964
WACO, Texas (March 4, 2016) – The Tenth Annual Global Business Forum, hosted by Baylor University and the McBride Center for International Business, will kick off Monday, March 14, and conclude Friday, March 18, in Baylor’s Paul L. Foster Campus for Innovation and Success.
The Forum assembles specialists from the academic, business and public policy communities to explore relevant issues in the world economy.
“We all know that many countries in the Middle East are struggling with terrorism, backwardness and a terrible refugee crisis,” said Steve Gardner, Herman Brown Professor of Economics and director of the McBride Center for International Business. “We hear less about the relatively progressive countries and emirates where some of our graduates have found amazing business opportunities. In this year’s forum, our speakers will discuss topics that range from the Iran nuclear deal to the opening of a new French bistro in Dubai.”
The schedule of events is as follows:
Film: The New Middle East — A screening of the film “The New Middle East” and a discussion with Ayman Safadi, CEO of Path Arabia, a political and communication strategy group founded by Safadi in Abu Dhabi in 2014, will take place at 3:30 p.m. Monday, March 14, in Foster Room 143/144.
Keynote Dinner: Ayman Safadi, The Middle East in the World Economy — A dinner and presentation on the connection between the Middle East and the global economy featuring Safadi. This event requires meal registration and will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, in Meyer Conference Center (Foster 250).
Timur Kuran and Joanne Held Cummings, The Institutional Setting — A presentation by Timur Kuran, professor of economics and political science and Gorter Family Professor in Islamic Studies at Duke University, and Joanne Held Cummings, career Foreign Service Officer of the U.S. Department of State, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 17, in Foster Room 143/144. This session will not be open to media.
Keynote Lunch: J. Cole Bucy, Moving Forward with the Iran Nuclear Agreement — A lunch and presentation by J. Cole Bucy, director for Iran at the U.S. National Security Council in the Executive Office of the President, will take place at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17, in Meyer Conference Center (Foster 250). Click here to register. This session will not be open to media.
Jim Anderson and Corey D. Munn, Marketing in the Middle East — Jim Anderson, owner of ETC International, Inc., a global business development and marketing firm and adjunct professor of international marketing at Baylor, and Corey D. Munn, business development manager for Central East Europe and Middle East Africa in the electrical markets division of 3M company, will talk about their experiences with marketing in the Middle East at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 17, in Foster Room 143/144.
Suzanne Blake and Tony Khoury, Working and Living in the Middle East — A presentation by Suzanne Blake, business development manager for Aegis Hospitality in Dubai, and Tony Khoury, attorney for Andrews Kurth in Dubai, will take place at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17, in Foster Room 143/144.
Global Issues Challenge — A student presentation competition organized by Global Business Connect will take place at 2 p.m. Friday, March 18, in Foster Room 143/144. The Global Issues Challenge dovetails with each year’s forum, providing students with a challenge question about global business aspects. The winner will be awarded a $100 prize.
Attendance at all sessions is free and open to the public, but the meals require free registration here. (Two presentations, listed above, are not open for media coverage.)
For more information, click here.
by Bethany Harper, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
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