February 9, 2004 :: No. 145
International Trade Program Expands
Its Goals
An international trade program being developed
to provide the region’s biomedical, pharmaceutical, environmental,
information and telecommunication technology firms with the expertise
to successfully expand internationally is entering its second year
with additional funding and enhanced goals.
The centerpiece of the International High-Technology
Business Partnership Project (INTERTECH) is a database that will
provide businesses with information on cultural and business practices,
as well as background information on Mexican, South American and
Asian governmental policies directed to the high-tech sector.
Project director Gustavo A. Vargas, professor of management
and associate director of the Center for International Business,
and Joe Greco, director of the Center for the Study of Emerging
Markets, were awarded $85,000 from the U.S. Department of Education
in second-year funding for INTERTECH. The two business faculty members
established the program to help area businesses make the right connections
for sustained business success.
“These countries urgently need to expand their
access to high-tech products and services to break away from their
geographical and structural limitations to economic development
and employment growth,” said Vargas. “In turn, the many
high-tech companies concentrated in Orange County urgently need
to expand their international trade.”
During the first year, INTERTECH began a number of
projects, including research reports on each area of focus and surveys
to learn more about high-technology business practices in various
countries. Those reports are now being finalized. “The papers
include regulations, major markets and the environment for business,”
noted Vargas. “Each will be placed on INTERTECH’s Web
site so interested businesses can review and become familiar with
this resource.
As part of INTERTECH, research is being conducted
to explore the international markets’ educational needs in
science, engineering and business management. “These will
help our students prepare to meet the needs of developing countries,
as well as those here in the United States,” he noted.
The work is being done by a cadre of faculty members
from the United States, Mexico, South America and Asia. It’s
a multidisciplinary collaboration with 17 faculty members, noted
Vargas.
“Our goals for this year are to complete all
the ongoing work by this fall and be able to distribute it to regional
high-tech firms,” said Vargas. “We also plan to hold
a conference/workshop to present our findings.”
Supporters of the upcoming conference and effort include
the Orange County Business Council, the American Electrical Association
and the Orange County Engineering Council.
“Our focus of the first two years have been
on high-tech suppliers … research and development and marketing.
In the future, INTERTECH II will focus on consumers/demand side
for manufacturing, transportation, hospitality and banks,”
said Vargas.
“The information that we are developing and
will share with industry will help boost the competitiveness of
our companies and increase their ability to operate in the global
marketplace,” he added. “By sharing the information
with our students and fellow faculty members, our graduates will
be more prepared than ever to become tomorrow’s business leaders.
Equally, by helping the high-tech industry, we help those countries
grow and develop.”
Media Contacts: |
Gustavo Vargas, professor of
management, at 657-278-3936 or gvargas@fullerton.edu
Joseph Greco, director of the Center for the
Study of Emerging Markets, at 657-278-2375 or jgreco@fullerton.edu
Pamela McLaren of Public Affairs at 657-278-4852
or pmclaren@fullerton.edu |
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