Can Oregon businesses compete globally?

PORTLAND, Ore. -- (Sept. 19, 2008) -- This year's Oregon Economic Forum will focus on competition in a global market, asking if Oregon has a sufficient transportation infrastructure to allow its businesses to compete. Keynote speaker for the Oct. 16 forum at the Oregon Zoo will be Bill Wyatt, executive director of the Port of Portland.

The forum, "Ships, Planes and Trains -- Oregon's Links to the Global Economy," will be held from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the zoo's convention facility, the Cascade Crest Banquet Center, located at the zoo's entrance -- 4001 SW Canyon Road, five minutes from downtown Portland on U.S. Highway 26 (Sunset Highway).

"The issue is an important one because transportation is vital to sustaining economic growth in Oregon," said Tim Duy, director of the Oregon Economic Forum and adjunct professor of economics at the University of Oregon. "The timeliness of this topic is enhanced by the recent jump in energy costs that is rapidly causing firms to rethink their international strategies."

Duy will present an update and forecast for both the U.S. and Oregon economies, and he will introduce a business cycle dating procedure for Oregon that was developed by UO economist Jeremy Piger.

Joining Wyatt, whose Port of Portland's governing arm stretches across three counties, and the UO's Duy as speakers will be John Olson, director of global transportation of Intel Corp., the semiconductor giant; Bruce Blonigen, Knight Professor of Social Science at the UO and UO economist Wesley Wilson. UO President Dave Frohnmayer will welcome forum participants.

Registration is required by Oct. 9 for the event, which this year is sponsored by Oregon Business Magazine, the Port of Portland, Oregon Rail User’s League, Portland Business Alliance and Collier’s International. The cost is $55 per person or $400 for a table of eight. More information, including online registration, is available on the Web (http://uoregon.edu/~oefweb/events/).

About Oregon Economic Forum
The Oregon Economic Forum is a series of initiatives of the UO College of Arts and Sciences and its economics department. With the state continuing to face economic challenges, the Oregon Economic Forum adds a new voice to the ongoing political and business economic dialogue and affords business, finance, government and university leaders the opportunity to explore relevant economic issues together. In addition to annual conferences in Portland and Bend, the forum produces the UO Index of Economic Indicators, the Central Oregon Business Index and the Lane County Business Index.

About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research institution and Oregon's flagship public university. The UO is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization made up of 62 of the leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada. Membership in the AAU is by invitation only. The University of Oregon is one of only two AAU members in the Pacific Northwest.

Media Contact: Jim Barlow, director of science and research communications, 541-346-3481, jebarlow@uoregon.edu

Source: Tim Duy, director of the Oregon Economic Forum, adjunct assistant professor of economics, 541-346-4660; duy@uoregon.edu

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