By Kristen George

CHARLESTON — The 34th annual South Carolina International Trade Conference will take place May 29-31 at Charleston Place in downtown Charleston. The three-day conference will include industry education and business sessions, a motivational speech by Major League Baseball Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda and a dialogue on the emergence of Vietnam as a premier trading partner.

“We’ve got a dynamite program,” said Jo Douglas, the conference general chairwoman. “Our industry is very dynamic—it’s always changing—so the more education you can get, the better you can do your job, and that’s our goal.”

The first day of the conference will include education sessions in customs, security and risk management. The next day’s opening ceremony will feature keynote speaker Gregory L. Miller, chief economist from SunTrust Bank in Atlanta. Lasorda will speak at the conference’s World Trade Luncheon.

Several of the region’s top experts will participate in business sessions covering such topics as trends in third party logistics providers, best practices from top shippers and “Seven Habits of Highly Successful Supply Chains.”

Finally, the conference will conclude on May 31 with the dialogue, “Vietnam—The Next Emerging Trading Partner,” featuring Mark Condon, vice president for the Trade Center Development Corp. in Charleston as moderator. Panelists include Sheena Tuyet Nguyen, general director for ACM Vietnam and executive assistant to chairman for 21st Century International Development Co., and Nguyen Duy Khien, commercial counselor and head of the trade office attached to the Vietnam Embassy in Washington D.C.

In addition, Jonathan L. Moreno, chief operating officer for Center for Global Strategies Ltd. and Marshall Copeland, president of Quaker Chemical Co. Inc.—two South Carolina companies currently trading with Vietnam—will serve on the panel.

“We’re really excited about focusing on Vietnam as one of the top emerging markets,” Douglas said. “When the Taiwan market became saturated, everyone moved to China. Now everyone is wondering what market is next. Vietnam is very anxious and ready to go.”

In addition to the education and business sessions, the conference will provide networking opportunities with more than 500 international logistics, transportation, manufacturing, distribution and international trade assistance professionals.
Registration details and more information are available online.