The Annual GRS Summer Conference is designed as a unique public outreach event hosted by a “Multi-Sector, Operational Non-governmental Organization (NGO)” with extensive experience implementing programs in the DPRK (a.k.a., North Korea).  Emphasizing positive new initiatives to develop new ideas as advocates for apolitical practical solutions. The Conference includes the Beyond Charity Classic® Golf Charity, the Reconciliation Symposium, and the Beyond Charity Award Banquet. 

The 2012 GRS Summer Conference will include three tracks:

• Business & Economic Development: The DPRK has continued to express an interest in interacting with U.S. business interests, but many U.S. companies are either reluctant to do so or are not fully aware of the issues involved with doing business in the DPRK.  DPRK's emphasis on economic development has been accentuated in the recent year with Kim Jong Il's initiatives in 2011 before his death and also with Kim Jong Un's new statements and focus in 2012 on raising the living standards of DPRK citizens and to develop a Strong and Prosperous Nation.  The 2012 GRS Summer Conference will incorporate a business track with the goal of inviting key business leaders to Arizona for concrete discussions in overcoming some of the barriers to US-DPRK business engagement.
• Food Security: Five aid agencies – Christian Friends of Korea, Global Resource Services, Inc., Mercy Corps, Samaritan’s Purse and World Vision, collectively known as the “US NGOs” – have worked together effectively on food security programs and flood aid response for many years. Each of the five US NGOs has more than a decade of experience working in the DPRK. In 2008, the five collaborated on a food security assessment, as well as a subsequent program that delivered 71,000 metric tons of US Government-funded food aid to 900,000 hungry North Koreans in Chagang and North Pyongan provinces. Representatives from these organizations will participate in a panel discussion on the current food insecurity in North Korea.

• Cutlural Exchange:  The Largest Delegation of US Citizens since the Korean War toured the DPRK in April. The Sons of Jubal, a 150-member all-male chorus and orchestra from the Atlanta area successfully performed twice in North Korea and three times in Beijing, China April 10-23, 2012. The group also toured the demilitarized zone (“DMZ”) from the North Korean side, engaged with musicians from 24 different countries, and toured the Pyongyang Music Conservatory. GRS is also working on bringing the DPRK National Symphony Orchestra to perform in the United States. This upcoming project will be designed as a historical non-governmental cultural exchange for the fine arts. This tour will be a culmination of GRS’ work in North Korea since 1997 and its decade and a half of experience in DPRK-US musical and cultural exchanges.  The 2012 Beyond Charity Banquet will incorporate a presentation related to cultural exchange.

Schedule 

 Thursday, July 26, 2012

Early Arrivals of Participants

Friday, July 27, 2012 

 Beyond Charity Classic and Reconciliation Symposium - Session 1

7:00AM - 2:00PM:  Beyond Charity Classic Golf Tournament and arrival of participants

12:00 - 200PM:    Check-in and registration for Symposium (Joining Golf Charity Awards Lunch)      

2:00 - 6:00PM:    Symposium Session 1  (Business Track)

2:00-2:10: Introductory Remarks/Opening (Daniel Jones, GRS Board Chairman & UM Chancellor)

I.              Investing in Challenging Environments (Moderator: Kwang Kim, Global Competitiveness Expert & GRS Advisory Council Member)

• 2:10-2:35: Competing n Frontier Countries: Case Studies(Kenneth Hynes, Managing Director, OTF Group)
• 2:35-3:00: Microfinance and Small Business Support (Kwang Kim on behalf of Michael Goldberg, Microfinance Expert).
• 3:00-3:30: Complying with and Overcoming US Sanction Laws on the DPRK (James Min, Vice President, DHL Legal Department).
• 3:30-3:50: Q & A Panel Discussion
• 3:50-4:00: Coffee Break

II.            Doing Business in the DPRK

A.    Opportunities: Business Environment and Opportunities

• 4:00-4:30: Overivew of Current DPRK Economic Trends & Policies  (Scott Snyder, Director, Council on Foreign Relations) 
• 4:30-5:00: Business Activities in the Rason Special Economic Zone and China's Jillin Province: Perspective from the Field-via Skype (David Kennicutt, Venture Capital Investor)
• 5:00-5:20: Q&A Panel Discussion (Moderator - Randy Smith, Senior Consultant, Chich Fil A)
• Evening Break

Evening – Focus Groups, Free time, & enjoy resort (TBA).

 Saturday, July 28, 2012 

  Reconciliation Symposium - Session 2 & Beyond Charity Awards Banquet 

AM:                              Breakfast on your own.  Discounted breakfast vouchers available for purchase.

8:00–12:00PM:            Symposium Session 2 - (Business Track)

I.              Doing Business in the DPRK (Continued)

B.     Overcoming Challenges of Doing Business in the DPRK (Moderator: James Min, GRS Chairman Emeritus, DHL VP of Legal Dept. & Scott Snyder,  Director of Programs on US-Korea Policy, Council on Foreign Relations , GRS Advisory Council Member)

• 8:10-8:50: Chinese Perspective on Successful Investments in the DPRK-via Skype (George Qiao, Partner, ChinEnergy Capital)
• 8:50-9:30: Russian-DPRK Trade/Economic Activities (Alexander Vorontsov, Director of Korean and Mongolian Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences)
• 9:30-10:00: Eurpoean Perspective on Doing Business in the DPRK-via Skype (Paul Tjia, Director, GPI Consultancy)
• 10:00-10:20: Q&A Panel Discussion (Moderator: James Min)
• 10:20-10:30: Coffee Break
• 10:30-11:00: Cultural Implementation Challenges in Doing Business in North Korea (Geoffrey See, Executive Director, Choson Exchange)
• 11:00-11:30: Managing Political Risk in the DPRK (David Kang, Professor of International Relations/Business & Korean Studies, USC)
• 11:30-11:50: Q&A Panel Discussion (Moderator: Scott Snyder)
• 11:50-12:00: Break and Preparation for Luncheon

12:00 - 2:00PM: Luncheon and Public forum (Food Security Panel)

• 11:30AM – 1:45PM: Food Crisis in North Korea: Facts, Fiction, and Solutions (Moderator: TBA). Luncheon and Public forum with USNGO Panel of Experts with over 15 years experience operating food programs in the DPRK (Matt Ellingson, Program Director, Samaritan’s Purse), Mercy Corps (TBA); Worldvision (TBA); Robert Springs, CEO & President, Global Resource Services, Inc.).

Afternoon – Focus Groups, Free time, & enjoy resort (TBA).

 6:30 - 7:00PM:              Reception

7:00 - 9:00PM:               Beyond Charity Banquet: Keynote Speaker James Donaldson, President of The Donaldson Clinic. Using Cultural Exchange to Build Bridges and Pave the Road to Reconciliation. Moderators: GRS Board Leadership.  

Register Now! 

Contact Yolande Pretti at yolande@grsworld.org  or 520-870-6828 for questions

Quick Links:

 

www.grsevents.org       www.dprknsotour.org

Cancellation Policy:

Cancel prior to July 23th, 90% refund.  July 23 - 26 50% refund.  After July 26, no refund.