Contact:
Melinda Pierson
Program and Communications Manager
Institute for Emerging Issues
919-515-7741
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 22, 2003
2004 Emerging Issues Forum to Focus on Global Economic Change
Political, economic, and technological changes now offer global opportunities for American business. At the same time, these opportunities can deepen inequalities at home. How communities and industries adapt to a more open world economy will determine their future.
The 2004 Emerging Issues Forum will focus on successful responses to the dislocation that comes with this new openness. The forum will be held Feb. 9-10 at NC State University's McKimmon Center.
National and international leaders from business, government, and academia will explore the implications global trade has on North Carolina, how the old and new economies are merging to form new alliances and new products, and how our communities can be competitive in creating jobs. To do this, these leaders will look at specific examples of cities and regions that have successfully navigated these waters. We will also explore how we can lessen the divides that this global growth is creating.
Keynote speaker Richard Wagner, president and CEO of General Motors, will shed light on ways that industry has changed and transformed to survive in the new economy. CEO since 2000, Wagoner has been credited with modernizing GM's stagnant culture to increase efficiency and productivity while maintaining tough performance standards. During his tenure, GM has transformed into the leanest, most productive of the domestic auto companies.
Other speakers include North Carolina Representative Sue Myrick, who will share her views on whether we gone too far with our trade policies; Mac Holladay, an economic development consultant in the Southeast who will discuss what communities and regions should do to be competitive; Graham Meadows, Regional Policy Director for the European Commission to relate examples of European communities that have implemented successful regional development strategies; and Mario Rubert, a business recruiter from Barcelona, one of Europe's best examples of a city that is putting fresh economic development ideas into practice.
The Emerging Issues Forum is a program of the Institute for Emerging Issues and was started in 1985 by former Governor Jim Hunt, who still serves as its chair. The state's premier public policy conference, the Forum serves as North Carolina's best opportunity to bring policy leaders, government officials, and business and university leaders together with state, national and international leaders in fields ranging from education, the environment, and health care strategies to biotechnology and the global economy. Past speakers have included Jimmy Carter, Carl Sagan, Al Gore, Tommy Thompson and Madeline Albright. Each year the audience of the Emerging Issues Forum includes nearly 1,000 citizen leaders, corporate chiefs, legislators, journalists, scientists and educators from around North Carolina, the south and the nation.
For more information about the 2004 Emerging Issues Forum, or to register to attend, call the Institute for Emerging Issues at 919-515-7741 or visit them online at www.emergingissues.org
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