New institute will further knowledge of international business in St. Louis area

Business America, Oct 28, 1985

The Institute of International Business at Saint Louis University's School of Business and Administration provides information and analysis to enable managers to make better decisions about their current or potential international business affairs. The Institute, formally established in September 1984, is the result of intensive strategic planning and analysis of community needs. Both Saint Louis University and the City of St. Louis are logical locations for the Institute. St. Louis is not only the largest urban center in Missouri and the home of over 700 business firms actively involved in international business, but the city is considered to be one of the strongest financial centers in the country.

According to Institute Director Dr. Seung H. Kim, "The Institute will offer seminars, research, conferences and lectures helpful to Missouri and St. Louis firms." A key objective of the Institute is to offer one-day conferences and seminars, inviting participants from government, business and academia from the United States and foreign countries. A distinguished guest lecture series in international business is jointly supported by the Institute and area businesses. Reports of the proceedings are then published and disseminated to the international business community in st. Louis and beyond. The Institute will also provide referral service for business--gathering and disseminating data on who is exporting what, where to get international trade financing, and more. Kim said the Institute will allow area business practitioners to take advantage of University resources and expertise rather than hiring consulting firms for expensive advice and information.

In addition, the Institute will further develop international business academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels to prepare students for successful international business careers. The Institute plans to make the international business program one of the best in the country with the aid of consultation and advice from the Institute Advisory Board. Courses being developed include international business functional courses; foreign language, culture, politics, and international law are also being incorporated into the curriculum.

Faculty and students are being linked with St. Louis area international firms through formal internships and joint research programs. In cooperation with Saint Louis University in Spain, an academic program in Orleans, France, and other business schools in europe, Asia, and Latin America, the Institute hopes to offer student exchange programs giving students the opportunity to study business and foreign language courses in different cultures. Foreign students are also encouraged to study at Saint Louis University.

The internship program initially started with the support and cooperation of the Arizona District Office of the U.S. Commerce Department in cooperation with the american International Management School (Thunderbird School). Now, it is a self-sustaining program, under the sponsorship of the missouri District Export Council (DEC) in cooperation with the Institute of International Business. The DEC selects international business firms which want to have market research done on specific products in certain countries. The internship team consists of graduate students, a faculty and trade specialists at the St. Louis District Office. The program has been judged successfully by companies which actually used the research to help develop export markets.

Recent Activities

Recent activities of the Institute include a September dinner meeting featuring former Missouri Governor Christopher S. Bond and Korean Ambassador to the United States Byong Hion Lew, addressing trade and the Far East. Kim also accompanied Bond and the delegation of Missouri business leaders and politicians on a trade mission to Korea. The purpose of the trip was to "open dialogue between Missouri and Korean businesses to further explore export-import trade and joint ventures." Kim provided the Missouri group with expertise, support, and advice on the Korean perspective toward trade.

The School of Business and Administration sponsors a day-long International Business Conference on campus each year, featuring renowned speakers in government, business, and academia. The November 1984 conference was the first to be sponsored by the Institute. approximately 300 area business executives attended the ninth annual conference, titled "Business Issues and Opportunities in Asia and the Pacific Basin." Seminars were given by such notables as Chinese Ambassador to the United States Zhang Wenjin, and Joseph B. Flavin, Chairman of the Singer Co. The previous year's conference speakers included Howard Love, Chairman of National Steel Corp.; T. Tomabechi, President of Mitsubishi International Corp.; Larry Klein, a Nobel prize winner; and Bruce Gelb, President of Bristol Myers Co.

The University, in cooperation with private sponsoring members and organizations, has a long-term commitment to serve the St. Louis area. The future looks bright for the Institute as it serves not only the academic community, but also the international business community in st. Louis region by pooling available resources in an effort to share the derived services and benefits.