EUGENE–Eugene-area businesses who want to break into the lucrative but sometimes risky Asia-Pacific trade can pick up some tips from experienced Oregon-based companies at a series of talks on "Expanding Opportunities: Doing Business in Southeast Asia."

The University of Oregon Center for Asian and Pacific Studies (CAPS) and the UO Charles H. Lundquist College of Business will sponsor the March through May lecture series in partnership with the Eugene Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Business News.

The four lectures will be from 5:30—7 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Downtown Athletic Club, 999 Willamette St. The cost of each talk is $10 general admission and $5 for UO students. A reception will precede each talk beginning at 5 p.m.

"Last year, 53 percent of Oregon’s total exports were to the Asia-Pacific region," says CAPS Director Gerald Fry. "We are sponsoring these lectures to help local business people better understand how other Oregon companies have benefited from trade with Southeast Asia and how they, too, can use state and federal resources to enter that market."

Dates and lecturers include:

• March 10: "Intel’s Evolution in Southeast Asia," a talk presented by Keith L. Thompson, recently retired vice president of Intel, will describe the company’s experience in Asia, including the factors that influence decisions to establish manufacturing overseas. Thompson, who was with Intel for 30 years, also will discuss marketing strategies in Asia. Thompson was responsible for selecting Oregon as a major Intel site and led efforts to establish Intel sites in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. He is a commissioner for the Port of Portland and an executive committee member of the Oregon Business Council.

• April 14: "Nike and Southeast Asia: A Win-Win Partnership," a lecture by Dusty Kidd, director of labor relations for the Nike Corp., will discuss marketing and labor issues in overseas operations. He was instrumental in Nike’s international market analysis and marketing efforts focused primarily in Asia that allowed Nike to grow from a small Oregon-based company to the world’s largest sports-equipment manufacturer. Kidd currently oversees labor policy, practice and relations for all Nike operations, including those in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and China.

• April 28: "Learning From Your Neighbors," a presentation by three to four local business people who will relate their companies’ experiences in doing business with Southeast Asian countries and corporations. Representing service, manufacturing and natural-resource industries of varying sizes, this group of Oregon business leaders will talk about entry strategies, cultural issues, the affect of Asian trade contacts on organizational culture, and the opportunities and challenges they faced.

• May 12: "Gaining Access and Tapping Resources," a panel presentation by representatives of business service agencies, will describe the services each offers to help Oregon businesses evaluate overseas opportunities, find financing, enter markets, establish and maintain partnerships, expand operations, and conduct on-going trade with Southeast Asia. The panel will include representatives from the Oregon Economic Development Department, the Eugene Export Assistance Center, the Small Business International Trade Program, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Eugene Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Administration. Joining them on the podium will be a freight forwarder, an international trade lawyer, and a finance-company officer.

For more information or to register, contact CAPS at (541) 346-4816 or the Eugene Chamber of Commerce at (541) 484-1314.

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