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Off to the USA



In about an hour, I am off on my trip to the USA for a few days, where I have been invited to give my views on the Welsh economy and the influence of entrepreneurship on creating future prosperity.

I will be visiting the University of North Carolina (UNC) to meet with organisations involved in developing enterprise, innovation and leadership studies. The visit will culminate in giving a keynote lecture to staff, students and local businesses entitled “Reawakening the Dragon: Developing the Welsh Economy for the 21st Century”.

I am honoured to be invited to give this lecture and to discuss what is happening in Wales in terms of entrepreneurship and the economy and, more importantly, to spread the message about how Welsh entrepreneurs are developing and growing their businesses.

More importantly, I am grateful to one of the University's benefactors, Ms. Rebecca Lloyd, who has provided a stipend to cover the costs of my visit, and who cares deeply about Wales as a result of her Welsh ancestry.

As this blog has emphasised on a number of occasions, Wales needs to build greater links with the USA. More importantly, I hope this lecture will makes some contribution to promote Wales, and the best of Welsh business, to individuals and businesses within one of the most innovative regions in the USA.

Hopefully will get a chance to blog during my visit.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I drafted quite a lot of patents for a big company based in the Research Triangle in NC - I hope you don't get asked about how bad Wales is at protecting its intellectual property. Sorry, but it's pretty clear, Wales sucks on the IP front.
April 22, 2008 10:00 am
Anonymous said…
Bon voyage! ;)
April 22, 2008 11:25 am
Anonymous said…
I am welshman who has lived in US for 9 years. You will not like to hear it but Wales is off the radar to most US companies. Asia is their focus: Cost and access to growing market.

Your trip to NC sounds like a nice little vacation under the aegis of promoting Wales. I guess that makes you entrepreneurial.
April 23, 2008 6:35 am
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans said…
Maybe, but you have got to start somewhere and there are certainly lessons Wales can learn which I hope to take back with me.

It certainly doesn't hurt to make new friends sometimes.

Indeed, did you know that it is the USA which is the largest inward investor into Wales, so there is something to build on.
April 23, 2008 9:11 am
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