The 10th Annual USA India Business Forum and the 25th Annual Georgia Tech Global Business Forum was held August 27-28, 2019 at the Academy of Medicine. The event, titled “Global Advanced Industries: Creating Local Opportunities,” was sponsored by the Sheller College of Business’ Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), the USA India Business Summit (UIBS), and the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Dr. John McIntyre, executive director of CIBER and professor of Management and International Affairs at Scheller, founded the annual Georgia Tech Global Business Forum in 1994, which covers different global industry and country markets every year.
This year four families of global technology were addressed: smart cities technologies, Agtech and urban agriculture, internet of things (IoT) and advanced manufacturing and smart locations.
Thirty-eight presenters from industry were involved, with 150 persons attending, including a reception held on August 27 at end of first day.
Welcoming remarks were provided by panelists, Dr. Yves Berthelot, vice provost of International Initiatives at Georgia Tech; Ms. Mary Waters, deputy commissioner, International Trade, Georgia Department of Economic Development; Ms. Vanessa Ibarra, director, Mayor’s Office of International Affairs, City of Atlanta; and Mr. John W. Woodward, senior director, Global Commerce, Metro Atlanta Chamber.
“We are globally engaged to look for opportunities to create new partnerships with India,” said Dr. Berthelot. He noted that Georgia Tech has a strong link to India in economic and research projects. He stressed the growing bilateral relationships with India and Japan and the importance of identifying areas where India and the state of Georgia can collaborate.
Mr. John Woodward stated that metro Atlanta already has 40-50 long-term investor companies interested in working with India for both inbound and outbound opportunities. “We’ve found success in other countries that intersect such as India and Japan,” noted Woodward.
“The Fourth Industrial Revolution has the clear potential of raising global income levels, improving the quality of life for large swaths of population around the world while implementing key components of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” according to the event program.
The Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) at Scheller College was created in 1993 and seeks promote U.S. international competitiveness through research, business education initiatives, and corporate outreach activities.