The Vietnam IT Forum 2001 will present an overview of Vietnam's infomation technology industry and its potential for U.S. participation. The conference showcases the emergence of Vietnam, particularly the technology sector and fetures the opportunities and challenges presented by these developments. The conference will examine the Bilateral trade Agreement, along with opportunities in softwre development, multimedia, telecommunications, networking, Internet/e-business, outsourcing, and foreign direct investment and financing. To indicate your interest in attending, please contact Q. Huy D. Do, Attorney-at-Law, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP. Tel: 415-954-0343, Fax: 415-391-2493, Email: qdo@ssd.com ***** THIS EVENT IS BY INVITATION ONLY. *****

Through interviews with and analysis of the portfolio of French VCs in Silicon Valley, Professor Ferary is examining ties between VCs and entrepreneurs based on nationality, education and professional background. He describes how French venture capitalists use the French network in their businesses and how they try to get inside others' social networks to increase their resources and accumulate social capital. An exchange theory based on the gift exchange theory can be used for understanding VC behavior and relations. Currently a visiting scholar at Stanford's Sociology Department, Michel Ferary is an assistant professor at Essec School of Management in Paris, France. He earned a PhD in business administration from HEC (France) and worked for three years as a consultant in financial services for Andersen Consulting and Gemini Consulting. In addition to current work on French VCs in Silicon Valley, Professor Ferary's research focuses on the function of social networks in the financial risk evaluation done by bankers.

Youth labor markets in most OECD countries were in disarray by the end of the 1990s. Japan was no exception. Some observers have claimed that Japan's highly institutionalized school-work system, involving close linkages between high schools and employers, has efficiently matched young people to jobs and has helped keep youth unemployment rates low. How is this changing, in the face of Japan's recession as well as structural changes in the labor market? My research examines the role of the school-work system and the pressures the system currently faces. Mary C. Brinton is Professor of Sociology at Cornell University, where she moved in 1998 after teaching at the University of Chicago for 13 years. Her principal interests are in social and economic change in contemporary Japan, the comparative study of labor markets, gender inequality, and the analysis of educational systems. Recent publications include Women and the Economic Miracle: Gender and Work in Postwar Japan (University of California Press, 1993), "Married Women's Labor in Rapidly Industrializing Economies: Examples from East Asia" (with Yean-Ju Lee and William Parish), American Journal of Sociology 93, 1 (1995), and The New Institutionalism in Sociology (edited with Victor Nee; Russell Sage Foundation, 1998). Her current work focuses on how institutions intervene in the Japanese youth labor market.

Inside Burma, the armed forces have established a chokehold on political power unrivalled in the world. The latest incarnation of junta rule emerged in 1988 following the bloody repression of a nationwide pro-democracy movement. Yet despite international revulsion, today's generals have barely been touched by its effects: the suspension of international economic assistance; the imposition of an arms embargo; and bans on new investment in Burma by Western firms. Over four decades of military rule, there have been rumors of in-fighting among officers, and of mutinies and desertions by foot soldiers. Many have concluded from such reports that the regime must inevitably fall. So far, however, such thoughts have been wishful. While elsewhere in Southeast Asia authoritarian regimes have crumbled, in Burma the junta has endured. How have Burma's generals managed to sustain their dominance for so long? Why hasn't the country's democratic opposition been able to wrest power from this regime? And why have international sanctions and prodding so utterly failed to break the stalemate in Rangoon? Mary Callahan is Assistant Professor at the University of Washington's Jackson School of International Studies. She received her PhD in Government at Cornell University in 1996. Among her many writings are chapters civil-military relations in Burma scheduled to appear in Soldier and State in Asia (Stanford University Press, 2000) and Burma: Strong State/Weak Regime (Crawford House, 2000). Fluent in Burmese, Prof. Callahan also teaches, lectures widely, and serves as a consultant to the United Nations on political conditions in Burma.

In many markets, organizations compete with rivals from all over the world, transcending national boundaries. We offer a theory to explain patterns of global competition, proposing that global competition "coevolves" in an ecology of learning organizations. Our theory points to certain conditions under which such evolution intensifies competition, but also to patterns of adverse selection within and among organizations. We test our theory in a study of organizational failure rates among all computer hard disk drive manufacturers that have ever existed, and find that our theory is able to explain patterns of competition in that industry over its history. William P. Barnett is an Associate Professor of Strategic Management and Organizational Behavior at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. He studies competitive systems within and among organizations, focusing especially on how competitiveness evolves as organizations grow and change. This research includes empirical studies of the evolution of organizational performance, the organizational and career determinants of entrepreneurship, the effects of technological and regulatory changes on competition among organizations, and how competitiveness evolves over time and across markets. His work reports on a range of firms and industries, including organizations in telecommunications, semiconductor manufacturing, beer brewing, newspaper publishing, and banking. Most recently he is studying the evolution of the computer industry. In 1988 he received his Ph.D. in Business Adminstration from the University of California, Berkeley.

The Honorable Wang Yunxiang has an extraordinary perspective on Chinese economic issues. His seminar will mainly concern the influence on China's economy and social development after China joins the WTO and will address key questions:

• How will America benefit from China joining the WTO? and
  
• What influences will be brought to the world's economy through China joining the WTO?
  

The Honorable Wang Yunxiang has had a distinguished diplomatic career. Since 1972 he served as Attache of the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Malta(1972-1978), the first Secretary, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Uganda (1984-1988), and the Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Norway. Thereafter, he served as the Deputy Director General of the Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1991-1996). In 1996, he was appointed as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Zambia. The Honorable Wang Yunxiang has served as Consul General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco since 1999.

Silicon Valley has become a melting pot of talent, opportunity, and capital from not only the United States but around the world. This seminar will focus on how Korean entrepreneurs can incorporate and manage high-tech ventures successfully in Silicon Valley by overcoming critical barriers--managerial, technical, and cultural. Based on in-depth case studies of Korean start-ups in Silicon Valley, this presentation identifies problems faced by entrepreneurs along the stages of venture development. It also suggests to Korean entrepreneurs a process to overcome barriers through support from partners and advisory experts in Silicon Valley and Korea. More specifically, this seminar will discuss the experiences of Korean start-ups in Silicon Valley in writing business plans, raising funds, hiring and motivating employees, and addressing cultural issues. In addition, some lessons and guidelines for foreign entrepreneurs in surmounting the obstacles for the successful incorporation and growth will be discussed, such as the importance of forming the founding team with complementary assets and the legal form of the entity.

Dr. Zong-Tae Bae is an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Management, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Seoul, Korea. He is currently on sabbatical from KAIST and working as a Visiting Scholar of the Graduate School of Business (GSB) and the Asia/Pacific Research Center (Shorenstein APARC) at Stanford University. His research interests include various aspects of technology management and entrepreneurship. Currently he is conducting a research project on a global model of new venture development. He has published 10 articles in international journals such as R&D Management and Journal of Production Innovation Management. He received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Seoul National University in 1982, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Management Science from KAIST in 1984 and 1987, respectively.

In Southeast Asia over the last two centuries, Chinese traders, workers, and immigrants adapted to a changing series of local environments--pre-national, colonial, and post-colonial. At each stage, they broadened the scope of their activities. They were on the brink of working the modern global economy when the post-World War II nation-states of Southeast Asia were created. Nationalist agendas and the politics of cold and hot wars soon obliged the ethnic Chinese to make readjustments. New forms of globalization are changing the Southeast Asian environment once again. Will former strategies of survivalÑadaptations honed during the last fifty years, if not the past two hundred--help the region's ethnic Chinese to deal with globalization in the 21st century? Or will such accommodations need to be replaced? Will the ethnic Chinese mainly seek (or be obliged) to concentrate on saving themselves? Or will they be able to share their own skills and values on behalf of the viable nations and vibrant economies that Southeast Asia will need if it is to cope successfully with the new century's challenges? Wang Gungwu is Director of the East Asian Institute and Faculty Professor in Arts and Social Sciences at the National University of Singapore; Distinguished Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, also in Singapore; and Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra. Previously, he was Vice-Chancellor (President) of the University of Hong Kong (1986-1995) and Professor of Far Eastern History at ANU (1968-1986). He also taught at the University of Malaya (1957-1968). His many publications include The Chinese Overseas (2000), China and Southeast Asia (1999), The Nanhai Trade (new ed., 1998), and, as coeditor, The Chinese Diaspora (2 vols, 1998) and Changing Identities of Southeast Asian Chinese since World War II (1988). Prof. Wang was born in Surabaya, Indonesia, and grew up in Ipoh, Malaysia.

The Israeli economy is in an age of change. It is changing at a fundamental level from labor-intensive, low technology industries to cutting edge high technology products aimed for export markets. Now that Israel is a major source of innovation, technology has become a source of significant connections with Silicon Valley. Major activities between the US and Israel are growing, and the trend, particularly with Silicon Valley, is now stronger than ever. What are the major kinds of ties between Israel and Silicon Valley? And what factors are driving the economic activities in Israel? Yishai Laks holds the position of the Government of Israel's Consul for Economic Affairs for the United States Northwest region (including Northern California, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana). From his headquarters in Santa Clara, California, Mr. Laks directs all aspects of economics relationships between the region and Israel, assisting US companies in establishing investments, joint ventures, and trade relationships with Israel and Israeli companies. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Laks served as Economic Advisor to the Director General in Israel's Ministry of Industry and Trade from 1994 to 1997. During his tenure, he advised the Director General on all aspects of the Ministry tasks and work. From 1992 to 1994 Mr. Laks was in charge of the trade between Israel and the East European and EFTA countries at the Foreign Trade Administration. Mr. Laks received his B.A. and M.B.A. from Tel-Aviv University, Israel emphasizing in Marketing and International Management.