The International Partnership of Austin (IPA) held a joint conference on investment in China with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) at the Stephen F. Austin Inter-Continental Hotel in Austin on Tuesday, April 22, 2008. A group of AATIA members were invited to attend. The AATIA group included Julie Nordskog, Takao Nonaka, Shwujen Wu, and myself. Julie operated the name tag table for attendees and acted as a gracious host during the half-day conference.

The featured speaker was Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson. Stephen Wong, regional director for HKTDC, led a panel discussion on the experience of doing business in Hong Kong and China. Bob Pearson, VP Dell, gave a presentation on the influence of China on the World Wide Web and the online experience. Other parts of the conference were a panel discussion on sourcing and manufacturing in Hong Kong and China, a presentation describing the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, a talk on capital issues in China by Peter Harris, partner in Javelin Investments, and a “Nuts and Bolts” workshop given by all the experts present at the conference.

Special thanks should go to Julie for her tireless hosting at the conference. She gave us a professional image.