MARCH 3 CONFERENCE TO PRESENT HELP FOR INDIANA FIRMS DOING BUSINESS IN ASIA

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- In the first of a series of conferences that takes a geographical and functional approach to global business, a roster of leading scholars, business people and public officials will discuss "Doing Business in Asia: China and Its Neighbors in 1998."

The March 3 conference -- which will focus specifically on issues relating to sales and marketing management -- will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Corporate Center of Eli Lilly and Co. in Indianapolis.

It is another program in the Indiana Global Business Conference Series, sponsored by the Global Business Information Network in Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, the Forum for International Professional Services, the International Center of Indianapolis and the World Trade Club of Indiana.

The program will open with remarks by John North, director of international relations for Eli Lilly and Co.; George Wilson, director of the IU East Asian Studies Center; and Lawrence Davidson, director of the Global Business Information Network at IU.

They will be followed by a discussion, "A Strategic View of Asia," featuring a panel consisting of William Saroris, chair of international activities in the Kelley School of Business; Janamitra Devan, director of the Global Strategies Group-Asia for Standard & Poor's DRI; and Mike Sullivan, vice president for business development for Inland Paperboard and Packaging Inc.

Closing out the morning will be the session, "Doing Business in Southeast Asia." Moderated by Nick Cullather, IU associate professor of history, the panel also will include John Elliott, manager for Asian business development for Inland Paperboard and Packaging Inc.; Toby Malachi, president of Malachi International Ltd.; and Harry Vaswani, registered principal, LPL Financial.

At lunch, Robert Orr, former U.S. ambassador to Singapore and former Indiana governor, will introduce the keynote speaker, James R. Lilley, resident fellow of Asian studies at the American Enterprise Institute and former U.S. ambassador to the People's Republic of China and to South Korea.

In the afternoon, Marjorie Lyles, IU professor of international strategic management, will moderate a panel on "Doing Business in North Asia." Panelists will include Eric Lutz, business information development manager at Allison Transmission; Andy Ording, vice president of sales and marketing of Compositech Inc.; and Miles F. Kanne, vice president of Cook Group Inc.

The final session will focus on "Doing Business in China." Moderated by Jeffrey Wasserstrom, IU associate professor of history, the panel will feature Don Sites, director of finance-new equipment business for Otis Elevator; Joy Chen, director of communications-China for Hirons & Co. Advertising; and Ron Gaughf, area production manager for Eli Lilly and Co.

The conference is open to any business people who are involved in international sales, production or investment, and those who wish to learn more about quality and certification issues. Advance registration is $200, which includes a lunch. Cost at the door is $250. Groups of five or more may register at a discounted cost of $150 per person. Those who have attended a previous conference in the series may register in advance for $130. For more information, contact GBIN at 812-855-5463.

Other supporters of the conference series are the centers for international business education and research at IU and Purdue University, the IU East Asian Studies Center, the Freeman Foundation, the International Trade Division of the Indiana Department of Commerce, the Small Business Development Center Network, and U.S. Airways.

Other conferences in the series will include "Doing Business in Latin America," on May 5; "Indiana International: Network '98," Aug. 5; "Doing Business in Europe: After the Introduction of the Euro," Sept. 29; and "Doing Business in Africa: New Markets and Opportunities," on Dec. 1.

Those wishing to attend all the conferences in the series may do so at a discounted rate of $520 per person or groups of five people for a total of $2,000.

At the completion of the series, those participants who have attended all the sessions will receive a certificate of participation from IU, indicating their completion of an intensive curriculum.

(George Vlahakis, 812-855-0846 or 812-855-3911, gvlahaki@indiana.edu)

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