August 27, 2009
Students travel to Dublin and London for international experience
For one week in August, 25 Massey MBA and MACC students traveled to Dublin and London to learn about the economic and business environments and the local cultures. Led by Dr. Susan Taylor, the group had a fast-paced trip and took in as much of both capitals as could be crammed into each day.
The trip began early Sunday, August 16th with a guided tour of Dublin, taking in the rows of Georgian houses, the River Liffey, and St. Patrick's Cathedral, among other sights. That evening, the Massey group was treated to a traditional Irish dinner, featuring the local favorite Beef and Guinness pie, followed by a show. We were impressed with the performances by both the traditional Irish folk group and the traditional dancers. The southern charm of a few Massey students must have made an impression on the Irish band members as they dedicated a closing song to a few students in the Belmont delegation.
Over the next three days, we visited various businesses from the biotech (Alltech, pictured above), manufacturing, accounting, and distillery industries, as well as took a group trip to the Guinness brewery. One highlight was a visit to Forfas, an economic advisory agency, where we heard a fascinating presentation on how Ireland plans to position themselves to survive the current economic downturn and move forward with sustainable growth. 
Another was the visit to the Jameson and Sons Distillery. Despite the realization that our group was from the region of a major competitor, we still got a fantastic and detailed presentation about the marketing strategy in the U.S. and abroad for Jameson's products.
On Thursday, August 20th, the group jumped the Irish Sea and traveled to London. The scale of London, and the pace, contrasted with that of Dublin, and the group took in as much of the architecture and history as possible in a whirlwind tour that included the crypt of St. Paul's and the Tower of London's collection of the crown jewels. With a free evening, the Massey group dove into exploring the city, with students branching out to see Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus.
Our last day brought us to Kesslers International and the U.S. Embassy. Kesslers showed us how they maintain a flexible manufacturing process in order to adjust as quickly as possible to meet client needs. They spoke of how they have defied conventional wisdom that suggested they cut costs by outsourcing manufacturing, instead investing heavily in people and machinery to keep their customers as happy as possible. Lastly, at the U.S. Embassy, the Massey group braved the stringent security and met with two embassy representatives that spoke of the cultural and economic closeness of the U.K. and U.S., as well as gave us a look into the life of a foreign services employee.
Boarding the plane Saturday morning, it was truly remarkable what all we had seen, thanks to Dr. Taylor and our guides from International Study Programs (ISP). Despite the relative cultural closeness of Ireland and England to the U.S., our group continually swapped stories of significant differences in the business cultures, the approaches to economic sustainability, and the social elements between the three countries. It was a valuable experience, and left many wondering when they could venture back, either for pleasure, or for a job opportunity.
June 28, 2009
Massey Students Travel to Know Europe
Massey MBA student Teresa Wade writes of her month-long travel as a participant in the Know Europe international trip. Here is a glimpse into her experience...
Friday morning started with a lecture from Michel Burquois, a European product marketing expert who works with an organization called OIV, which is similar to the United Nations, but focuses only on the wine industry. His résumé includes participation in the team that created Nestlé’s Kit Kat. He was quite knowledgeable on campaign and marketing development, an invaluable resource not only for our project, but a great contact for future reference.
In the afternoon our group took a short bus ride to experience the Cliffs at Etretat. The photos don’t do justice to this massive place, but will hopefully give you an idea of the scenery…. It was truly amazing.
Our hike lasted about two hours from the time we hiked to the top and then down and around through the small town. This was another of Claude Monet’s vantage points during his time in the Le Havre, France region.
Our path took us down into the town of Etretat, which was quaint and cute, with beach cafés with a beautiful view of the cliffs.
After a morning run, class, group project work, and an exhilarating hike at the cliffs, I was beat. I worked on my project a couple of hours and hit the hay. I am up early this morning, playing golf with Perry and Noel from the University of New Orleans, at a course located at the cliffs where we were yesterday. It should be an experience for sure. The wind will be wild, but the scenery incredible…. And how many opportunities will I get to play golf in France?
March 27, 2009
Massey students experience Chile
Eighteen MBA and MACC students and Mr. Jose Gonzalez spent March 7th to March 14th immersed in the wonderful culture and city of Santiago, Chile. We spent the week visiting local businesses, tasting local cuisine, exploring the beauty of the Andes Mountains, and even trekking to the coastal city of Valparaiso and Viña del Mar. Educational travel service company, Latin American Study Tours, arranged for our lodging, business visits, transportation, meals, and perhaps most importantly our fantastic guide Hugo.
We kicked off the week on Sunday with a tour of Santiago, and some of the main historic sites of the city. The city is incredibly modern, and is ranked among the safest in South America. Our first visit was the founding point of the city – Cerro San Cristobal. A lush green park, with the remnants of a fort at the top that overlooks a city surrounded by mountains. After eating lunch (and some monstrous crab) at the Seafood Market, we ventured to the Presidential Palace, where our guide Hugo shared with us some of the rich history of this beautiful country. Interestingly, we were able to walk right up to the palace, and even take pictures with the Presidential Guard.
Monday began our journey with a visit three different companies, starting a local entrepreneurial venture called Araucania Yarns, a yarn dying company that exports nearly 100% of the product. The entrepreneur graciously hosted us with a tour and captivated us with her fascinating and inspiring entrepreneurial story. Later that day we were off CORFO – the Chilean Economic Development Center, and the U.S. Embassy, where we learned about the remarkable growth and opportunities that exists in Chile. Yet, as one of the strongest economies in South America, even this export based country has been heavily impacted by the global recession. At the U.S. Embassy we also learned about the fabulous, but largely unknown services provided by the U.S. State Department.
On Tuesday we visited two manufacturing companies – Gerdau AZA and Acancagua Foods. Gerdau AZA is a scrap recycling plant, which amazingly emits nearly zero emissions. A very impressive site needless to say, and nearly all scrap processed is sold within Chile. Acancagua Foods is equally as impressive as the largest fruit company in the southern hemisphere. Both companies have an incredibly long history, each over 100 years old. We ended the day with a fabulous dinner and show, where we watched traditional dances of Chile including the Cueca (the national dance of Chile) that resembles the courting ritual of a rooster and a hen.
On Wednesday we mixed up the routine with a little outdoor activity in the ruggedly beautiful Andes Mountains. The group spent the day hiking, horseback riding, white water rafting, and zip lining across a river.
On Thursday we were back to business with a visit to Concha y Toro, the largest and oldest winery in Chile. We next visited Telefonica, one of the largest companies in the world (ranked #43), and the fourth largest telecommunications company in the world. The company is as impressive as the view of Santiago atop the building, which ironically enough is shaped like a cell phone. We concluded the day with a visit to a local artisan fair about an hour outside of Santiago. The artisans received funding from an organization called Banigualdad – a microfinance organization. We were privileged to chat with the local entrepreneurs to learn their story, purchase their products, and discuss the many benefits realized from the microfinance program.
On Friday, our last full day in Chile, we visited the port city of Valaparaiso and the resort town of Viña del Mar, where we visited the company of TPS, a container liner operations company. Valaparaiso is Chile’s largest port, and the second largest on the western cost of South America. We observed globalization first hand with the loading and unloading of containers from all over the world.
Filled with sense of wonder and a new found appreciation, we regretfully had to leave our adopted home of Santiago. But we leave with a new love and respect for our South American neighbor, and are thankful for such an enriching and broadening experience. In fact, many of us are already planning our next visit.
Authored by Joe Ormont.
December 02, 2008
A Week in the Czech Republic
Early last month, 19 Massey MBA and MACC students visited the Czech Republic for 8 days as part of the MGT 6350 - International Study Abroad trip experience. Led by Professor Joe Alexander, the group left Nashville on a Saturday afternoon, and after stops in Memphis and Amsterdam, arrived in Prague late Sunday afternoon, returning to Nashville the following Saturday. This was the fourth Massey trip over the years to Prague, which has proven to be one of the most popular course locations for students and faculty.
[Students, faculty and management team members from F.X. Meiller Kippers, Slany] The class itself began in early October, with two separate Saturday class meetings--one devoted to trip logistics and planning and the other set aside for student presentations on their selected research topics. In preparation for the trip, each student prepared as a country expert in their selected area of expertise (e.g., technology, transportation and logistics, pollitical environment, tourism, etc.). In addition to preparing a reflective journal during the actual trip experience, students also then worked in teams upon their return to develop a market entry strategy for a product/service of their choosing. Selected topics ranged from a joint venture project with the Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka to a consulting service for Czech companies seeking to increase retention of women employees in the workforce.
A basic itinerary for the visit to Prague is shown below:
Saturday, Nov. 1st - Depart from Nashville
Sunday, Nov. 2nd - Arrive in Prague; Tour of City and History, Group Welcome Dinner
Monday, Nov. 3rd - Univ. of Economics Prague Presentation; Doing Business in the Czech Republic Presentation
Tuesday, Nov. 4th - Group Trip to City of Plzen (Wikov Gear and Bohemia Sekt Presentations)
Wednesday, Nov. 5th - Group Trip to City of Slany (F.X. Meiller Presentation); Visit to WW II Terezin Concentration Camp
Thursday, Nov. 6th - ING Banking Presentation and Human Resources Consulting Presentation
Friday, Nov. 7th - Mark BBDO Advertising Presentation
Saturday, Nov. 8th - Group Cultural Trip to city of Kutna Hora, a UNESCO site
Sunday, Nov. 8th - Return to Nashville
Signage near the entrance to Terezin Concentration Camp where over 150,000 Jews were housed during the combined years of World War II.
September 29, 2008
Massey Students Spend a Summer in Europe
This past summer, fourteen graduate students from Belmont’s Massey School of Business traveled to Brussels, Belgium to embark on the academic adventure of a lifetime. For twenty nine days, the students traveled to four different countries and five cities throughout Western Europe. Five European partner institutions organized this opportunity of a lifetime. The ‘Know Europe’ program is designed to introduce students to the diverse cultures of Europe and teach the differences and similarities in each country’s market place. The intensive program takes students through Brussels, Amsterdam, LeHavre, Paris, and Barcelona.
As the students arrived in Brussels, the European Union capital, they were assigned a strategic marketing project to be presented to a panel of judges at the conclusion of the trip. The project consisted of designing a marketing plan for introducing a beverage, proposed from a student’s local area, into a European market. Throughout the journey, students spent time in classroom lectures, as well as traveling to businesses learning about how to introduce their particular beverage.
The program was rigorous, but the students still found plenty of time to have fun. Students enjoyed things like the famous waffles, chocolates and beer in Belgium, and international soccer matches, Boom Chicago comedy show place and the salsa club in Amsterdam. They also enjoyed the music festival, the D-day beaches and Etretat cliffs in Le Havre, the Louvre, Notre Dame and Eiffel tower illuminating the night sky in Paris, and touring the Torres winery, touring the futbol club, and basking in the sun on the beautiful beaches in Barcelona. On their voyage through these cities, there was a blend of museums, monuments, memorials, churches, and many other sights that the students had opportunities to explore and learn. Every single student took advantage of this opportunity and made the most out of every bit of their free time.
Another characteristic that made the experience unique was the diversity of the students. There were a total of thirty-seven students from New York, Chicago, Tampa, New Mexico, Honduras, India, Bulgaria, Singapore, and Morocco. There were eighteen undergraduate and nineteen graduate students with ages ranging from nineteen to thirty-nine. Belmont was represented by eleven MACC students and three MBA students.
The experience of working together with students from multiple demographics and backgrounds brought about new challenges for all of the students. Much was learned about true potential and reaching goals. The Know Europe program was an amazing opportunity for students to grow and learn in a truly invaluable international environment.
June 30, 2008
Massey Students Travel to China
Thank you to Jeff Williams for sharing his experience on the International Business trip in China 2008: Beijing and Shanghai.
Twenty-one MBA and MACC students, Dr. Cochran, and Dean Raines spent May 16th to May 23rd touring two great cities in China. From the Great Wall to the Shanghai Port, the Belmont group traveled by plane, bus, sleeper train, taxi, and foot to explore Beijing and Shanghai. Boutique service provider ChinaSense arranged for the business visits, cultural excursions, meals, and market walks, in addition to providing much-needed translation services for the duration of the trip. One week after the catastrophic earthquake and less than three months before the Olympic Games, Massey students faced a climate rife with both grief and fervent preparation.
On Saturday morning, we kicked off a full weekend of discovering Beijing’s historic, cultural, gastronomic, and commercial attractions. Some lessons learned: 1) the breathtaking Great Wall should be more aptly named the Majestic Mountain Staircase 2) Peking Duck is delicious and it takes three days of applied culinary science to get the crispy skin just right 3) The Forbidden City is not actually forbidden but one of the most traversed destinations in all of China 4) a lunch of traditional Beijing noodles is the true reason that Dr. Cochran led the trip 5) while negotiating with merchants, you always need to walk away at least once 6) traffic laws are merely suggestions—might makes right 7) taxi rides in Beijing are kind of a crap shoot whether you are being taken back to the hotel or on a more expensive joy ride, and 8) KFC is strangely ubiquitous. All in all, seeing the Olympic National Stadium and the National Aquatics Center, better known as the “Bird’s Nest” and the “Water Cube”, as well as the endless construction sites at every turn, made for a very impressive ground introduction into this metropolitan center of China. 
On Monday, we began the true purpose of this journey: visiting eight businesses. Dr. Cochran must have known the power of the number “8” in China; for many, it is the number of happiness, prosperity, and essentially all things positive. On this tour of 8, we visited Lenovo, which is a global competitor in the PC and laptop market and one of the title sponsors of the Olympics. Lenovo is arguably China’s most successful company in history. Later that day, we visited a charity-funded vocational school for teens of parents who came to the city as migrant workers. We exchanged messages of encouragement, appreciation, and goodwill with the students, who touchingly sang for us before we left. After a trip through a Chinese Wal-Mart and a night on a sleeper train from Beijing to Shanghai, we visited an elite B-school named China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) on its I.M. Pei-designed Shanghai campus. CEIBS is a European-Chinese collaboration, and we participated in an informative Q & A session with two current students.
On Wednesday, in Shanghai, we embarked on four visits, beginning with the well-respected Jun He Law Firm, followed by the Office Depot warehouse, the Office Depot Shanghai Office, and last, but certainly not least, Dr. Ming Wang’s Aier Eye Hospital. Dr. Wang had been a guest speaker six weeks prior at one of our pre-trip classes, and in Shanghai, he gave us a personal tour of his impressive facilities. Never letting a teachable moment go by, Dr. Wang continually challenged us to think more deeply and creatively about the hospital business model as well as the differences between Chinese and Western approaches to medicine. On Thursday, our last full day in Shanghai, we witnessed the massive and astounding Shanghai Port, which loads and unloads ocean liners full of heavy cargo. As the logistic Mecca of Shanghai, it is where heavy global industries must go to send or receive cargo the size of tractor-trailers.
Filled with good Chinese food, our heads still spinning with the hustle and bustle of Beijing and Shanghai, we eventually had to leave. But at least we left Shanghai at the same pace as China’s economic growth—superfast—at 300km/h on a magnetic levitation bullet train, to be precise. In the coming weeks, there should be a link on the Belmont website for this China trip, which will include as much detail as possible regarding what was truly a broadening and enriching course.
March 31, 2008
Massey Students Travel to Spain
Thank you to Becky Gann for sharing her experiences and photos from the Massey international trip to Spain.
I attended the Spring 2008 International Business Field Study trip to Spain this March with Dr. Overby and 23 classmates from the MBA and MACC programs. During the trip we stayed the entire week in a lovely hotel in the center of old Madrid just blocks from the Royal Palace.
Our week was packed with intriguing visits to area businesses such as Deloitte Madrid, Grupo Santander, Inditex, McCann Erikson, Repsol, Club Atletico de Madrid, Union Fenosa, ONO Spain, Adolfo Toledo Winery, and Unilever in Aranjuez. It is hard to believe we experienced so much in one week.
From the cuisine to the historical sites and business visits, we even had time to see the works of Picasso at the Reina Sofia Museum and experience flamenco at Casa Patas. One of our colleagues even attended a championship futbol game, Real Madrid vs. Roma. In real Massey School fashion, we all learned an immense amount in a short amount of time with a great group of friends and a great professor.
October 30, 2007
Graduate Students Travel to South Africa
As part of the Massey School’s graduate program and the required study abroad component for MBAs and MACCs, 18 graduate students and Dr. Jeff Overby departed October 26 for Cape Town, South Africa. This International Business Field Study course is relatively unique among graduate business programs, with only a select few other MBA programs such as Georgetown's and Southern Cal's maintaining a similar requirement for students.
Though they will be in South Africa for only a little more than a week, a full itinerary is planned. The group plans to visit with various businesses and hear from a number of speakers in order to learn more about doing business in South Africa. In addition, this trip includes a special focus on social entrepreneurship. Students are going to see real-life examples of how individuals have used their entrepreneurial skills to solve social problems and empower the poor, and in the process, better understand various interrelationships between areas such as poverty, AIDS, and economic development. The trip is not all about business, however.
There will also be opportunities to see why many people consider South Africa to be the most beautiful country in the world. In the process, they might even catch sight of a baboon, an elephant, and maybe even some African penguins.
September 03, 2007
Massey Students Experience the "Celtic Tiger"
The international trip for the summer semester had students travelling to Ireland for an opportunity to explore the story of the booming economy of the Celtic Tiger and experience Irish culture first hand. Dr. Robert Lambert and 22 MBA and MACC students traded record setting heat in Nashville for the the much cooler Irish climate from August 11 to 18.
The group arrived in Dublin on Sunday morning where we were treated to a tour of the western coast. Our first company visit on Monday morning was with Enterprise Ireland where we received an overview of the Irish economy and discussed the government programs that are available to drive and sustain business in the country. Tuesday morning had us visiting Alltech, an international biotechnology company that focuses on animal health and performance. Alltech has their international headquarters in Lexington, KY and offered an interesting perspective on the relationship between agriculture and technology. Tuesday afternoon involved a presentation by marketing executives at Jameson Whiskey and a tour of their historical facility. On Wednesday morning we met with a partner from the accounting firm BDO Simpson Xavier before continuing on to the city of Limerick. Thursday morning brought the Limerick City Enterprise Board, which works with small, local businesses to stimulate the local economy. Thursday afternoon was a highlight of the trip as we visitied the Eastern coast of Ireland. The Cliffs of Mohrer and surrounding country were spectacular, even if the roads were a bit narrow! We wrapped our trip up on Friday with a visit to Dell, where we toured the production facility and spoke with management about the role of the Limerick office in supplying the EU.
The trip was a resounding success and wonderful educational experience. Both the company vists and the cultural activites offered a unique glimpse of the Celtic Tiger that will be remembered by all.
July 03, 2007
Massey Students Return from Argentina
A group of Massey students, accompanied by Dean Raines, visited Buenos Aires, Argentina from May 14 to 19th. Students were immersed in Argentinean culture through cultural activities, city tours and a visit with elementary school children in a low income area of the city.
The trip also included visits to the local Ford Motors plant, Dow Chemical facility and the Arcor Candy plant. The group was also able to meet with a private energy company, Argentina’s national telecommunication regulatory agency, a state-owned water company and a local social services agency.
Know Europe 2007 is Underway
Twelve students from the Massey Graduate School of Business are currently abroad as part of the Know Europe trip. Know Europe brings together students from the USA, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Honduras, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, China, Peru and Russia to study together and experience aspects of international business. Students will be returning in early July from their month abroad which included stops in Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris and Barcelona. Students are pictured during a visit to the EU Parliment.
April 30, 2007
Massey Students Travel to India to Work with Deloitte
Ten Massey students along with Professor Dr. Jane Finley traveled to India to experience the culture, perform an analysis of the Deloitte U.S. Accounts Payable outsourcing process, and gain a better understanding of outsourcing IT development and business processes to India.
The exciting trip began in Delhi where the group encountered the unique culture of a large metropolitan Indian city. Sara Jacobson, a MACC student who was fortunate to take the trip, stated, “I was unaware traffic laws are nonexistent in India - the lines on the road are merely suggestions, every time we drove somewhere it was an adventure!” During the group’s time in Delhi, they had the opportunity to visit a historical mosque in Old Delhi, Gandhi’s tomb, and view the capital city’s governmental building.
On the next day, the group took an exciting 5 hour bus ride from Delhi to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. Although the trip was long, the group overwhelmingly stated it was worth it to view the “breathtaking” Taj Mahal. While in Agra, some members of the group even got to experience the annual Indian festival of Holi. Holi is a celebration of the new colors of the new season by throwing color paints and water on each other. Sara Jacobson shared, “Kristin McKnight and I noticed the locals putting a dot of paint on people's foreheads, and someone told us it means "greatness to you" and that the rest of the paint all over your face and body is just for fun!”
After returning to Delhi, the group took a 2 hour flight to Hyderabad to work with Deloitte and visit Infosys to experience and learn about outsourcing first hand. While at Deloitte, the group visited with the Region 10 Accounts Payable staff and gained a more complete understanding of the successes and failures of the current AP outsourcing process. The group also visited with the managing partner of the Deloitte Tax Services division to learn how Deloitte is successfully taking advantage of young intelligent Indian talent to offer tax services to the U.S. Following the visits to Deloitte, the group traveled to the Infosys campus to tour the gorgeously landscaped offices and visit with an IT development team currently working on a project for a company in Nashville, TN. At both companies, the group was able to experience both the professional and cultural interactions between the U.S. and India that are necessary to achieve success in outsourcing operations.
After arriving home, the group presented their findings concerning the Hyderabad AP outsourcing processes to senior management at the Deloitte Hermitage offices where the group’s analysis was well received. All members of the group expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to experience the unique culture of India and view first hand the rising economy of the country.
December 09, 2006
Massey Students Study Abroad in Czech Republic
A group of twenty Massey students traveled to the Czech Republic for the Fall International Business course. The Czech Republic was previously known as Czechoslovakia before splitting in 1993 with Slovakia. The course was built on importing and exporting products or services into the growing Czech market.
The flight to Prague proved long with a major luggage hiccup due to unforeseen weather issues. The group missed their connecting flight in Detroit which delayed their arrival by eight hours. The group made it to Prague just in time for a quick shower before the welcome dinner Sunday evening. Their luggage was lost somewhere between Detroit and Amsterdam and several members of the group persevered for two-five days without their personal belongings.
Monday started with a visit to the American Chamber of Commerce, followed by a visit to Deloitte’s new corporate office. The following days consisted of visits to Czech Export Bank, Maersk Logistics, Johnson & Johnson, Prague Property and Ceska Sporitelna (the largest bank in Czech Republic). The visits proved useful in evaluating ideas of companies’ successes in the Czech Republic and Eastern Europe. Belmont University left a great impression on the speakers and tour guides due to our wonderful attitude. “It was great meeting with you and your group of student. It is not so often to meet such enthusiastic class with sense of humor, keen on education and deep understanding. Good atmosphere in the team is my second perception,” said Ales Martinovsky, Business Development Director for Johnson & Johnson. The tour guides even said Belmont was their favorite group thus far.
Outside group activities included a tour of the Staropramen Brewery, the Terezin Concentration Camp, and a tour of Prague Castle and the city. Several students and Professor Overby went to see Marriage of Figaro and other music concerts at the Opera house where Mozart conducted the premiere of Don Giovanni.
The trip was a great success for all involved and the flight back was uneventful. The group made friends and spread the already excellent reputation of Belmont to the Czech Republic!
March 29, 2006
Massey Students Study Abroad in Chile
The Study Abroad course trip for the spring term was to Chile, in the southwest corner of South America. The course itself built on previous experiences and was developed into an international consultancy project for five Nashville companies. Four of the companies were looking at entering the Chilean market while the fifth one was seeking to use Chile as a gateway to other Latin American countries. The class examined five industries with specific business sectors: automobile (engine parts), food (specialty pasta), religion (instructional materials), office supplies (printer cartridge recycling) and garment (precision cloth cutting machine manufacturing).
The classroom time again differed in that one of the classes was a joint session with the Nashville Chamber of Commerce on “Doing Business in Chile.” The featured speaker was Sara McDowell, Chile Desk Officer, U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C. Other areas studied were about market entry research and modes of entry. In addition, a session on CenTradex, a data base of imports and exports, proved a valuable tool for the students.
The flight down on Saturday proved long but uneventful. Early Sunday morning, 20 students and 2 professors arrived in Santiago. Once settled in the hotel, the briefings started and then the afternoon was spent touring the city, which is a very westernized city with a strong Spanish influence. Our evening meal was at the same restaurant as the retiring President of Chile. There were more secret service agents than students.
Monday started with briefings from the Foreign Investment Committee and the American Chamber Of Commerce. These were then followed Monday afternoon and Tuesday by corporate visits to companies that are in the same sectors that the groups were studying plus the Central Bank and LAN the Chilean airlines.
Wednesday's visit was to the port of Valparaiso. The briefing on the infrastructural planned growth and increased tonnage going through the port reflected the very pro business thinking of the Chilean government and people. Thursday briefings by the US Commerce service on the five industry sectors being studied added to the overall understanding of doing business in Chile, particularly in those sectors. Friday included a visit to Entel, a technology giant in the country.
Our final day, Saturday, was spent at a resort in the Andes with everything from horseback riding to guided walks. The flight that evening was again long and tiring, but we finally returned to Nashville without any real mishaps and with the same number that had left one week earlier.
In talking with the students, it was the consensus of the group that Chile is a rapidly expanding market economy that offers many opportunities.