Asia — and the economic opportunities there for Montana
businesses — is the focus of this year's 32nd Economic Outlook
seminar.
The annual event is presented by the University of Montana's
Bureau of Business and Economic Research.
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The seminar highlights the
latest economic trends and explains what they mean for Montana.
Bureau Director Paul Polzin will look at the state's current
commodity boom and how long it may last.
Bureau researchers and other experts will examine recent trends
and the outlook for Montana's travel, health care, agriculture,
manufacturing and forest products.
Phil West, Mansfield professor and former director of the Maureen
and Mike Mansfield Center at UM, will discuss economic development
and opportunities for trade throughout Asia.
He also will discuss issues that come with rapid growth, such as
rising living standards, rising consumption and rising environmental
problems.
The luncheon program, "Perspectives from China" will feature Bob
Brown, senior fellow at UM's Center for the Rocky Mountain West and
former Montana Secretary of State.
Other presenters include George Haynes, Montana State
University-Bozeman professor from the Department of Agricultural
Economics and Economics; Charles Keegan, director of Forest Industry
Research, Bureau of Business and Economic Research at UM; Rick
McCann, vice president and senior investment officer of First
Interstate Bank; Norma Nickerson, the director of the Institute for
Tourism and Recreation Research at UM; and Daphne Herling, director
of development of Kids County, of the BBER, UM.
Other seminar dates include:
Jan. 23 in Helena at the Great Northern Hotel.
Jan. 26 in Missoula at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Jan. 30 in Billings at the Crown Plaza Hotel.
Jan. 31 in Bozeman at the Best Western Gran Tree.
Feb. 1 in Butte at the Copper King.
Feb. 6 in Kalispell at the Red Lion Hotel.
March 6 in Sidney at the USDA Agricultural Research Lab.
March 7 in Miles City at the Miles City Community College.
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