Dr. Richard R. Vuylsteke

1
Strategies Experiences Internationalization
of the Living Environment (USA)
Presented by Dr. Richard R. Vuylsteke Executive
Director American Chamber of Commerce in
Taipei at TIER Seminar on Glocalization 11
October 2007
2
Four Topics

• The USA Advantage A nation of immigrants
• Graduate Education Attract the best of the
  best
• Media Communications Free, critical, and an
  environment of responsibility backed by custom
  and law.
• Service Economy A place to make a new start
  businesses easy to startand easy to fail.

3
Immigration

• The USA Advantage A nation of immigrants
• A wonderfully varied and mixed gene pool
• Integration of new immigrants a long, mixed
  history that once again is a major issue of
  debate
• Highlights in recent decades Taiwan, Laos,
  Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea, Mexico, China
• Impact on linguistic diversity (still weak, but
  growing)

4
Graduate Education

• If you start right, you have a better chance of
  ending right! In graduate school, it starts with
  asking tough questions challenging authority.
• The schools Extraordinary diversity people
  can find the right fit for their personality
  and study plan. Pluses work-study programs and
  scholarship assistance.
• The curricula World class science technology
  and in the humanities, often the best place to
  study ones own homeland.

5
Media Communications

• Addicted to World News Media freedoms (and
  responsibilities) protected by custom the rule
  of law.
• Diversity Expected Demanded newspapers,
  magazines, radio, TV, Internet (in ascending
  order).
• Movies Technology true convergence! and
  possible because of internationalization.
  Attract the best of the best.
• Links between Media Academe synergies abound.

6
Aggressive Service Economy

• Focus on Service Industries Bonanza for old and
  new entrepreneurs in small- and medium-size
  industries.
• Best Practices Bolstered by Communications
  trade magazines, government programs, community
  colleges, on-line learning, chambers of commerce,
  ethnic support groups, NGOs, etc.
• Rule of Law Darwinian approach survival of
  the fittest but also very good chances for
  another try. (Modulation of regulatory
  environment a continuing issue safety and
  security, but also flexibility.)

7
Suggestions for Taiwan

• Welcome immigrants (and visitors), dont
  marginalize them Many opportunities lost with
  the new wave of spouses from China and Southeast
  Asia.
• Education Move education more aggressively into
  the 21st Century and include more schools in
  the upgrade. Revise traditional teaching methods.
• Media Communications Current cable TV
  restrictions a disgrace libel law practices have
  little impact on custom/habit building
  convergence is a fact, regulate it appropriately
  or be isolated all media too focused on Taiwan
  alone an insular mindset.
• Service Economy Encourage growth enact smart
  regulatory change eliminate manufacturing
  mindset.

8
Thank you