Lunar New Year is celebrated throughout Asia.

Editor’s note: Georgia State University’s Office of International Initiatives is ringing in the Year of the Dragon with its annual business forum — A Rebalanced Asia: The Role of AI, Data Management and EVs — on Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. Once focused solely on China, the event now takes a broader view of the region and is designed to share timely knowledge and foster intimate networking among Atlanta-based companies.

The Q&A below with GSU OII Head of Academic Outreach Initiatives Kimberly Henshaw and longtime Asia hand Henry Yu, a retired banker and private equity advisor, is published through the OII’s annual partnership with Global Atlanta.

Global Atlanta: Why focus on rebalancing? How did you determine the core industries, and why are they relevant to Georgia?

Ms. Henshaw: As a hosting committee, we all felt that these topics in particular were both timely and appealing to our audiences.

Mr. Yu: Rebalancing reflects less concentration of risks (customer, sourcing, etc.). Obviously businesses in the West are chasing cheaper labor, including in China itself. But naturally all business need to reduce and mitigate many other types of risk, from commercial to political risk and issues like the repatriation of funds.

You’ve been consistently diversifying beyond China as a topic for this annual Lunar New Year program. This year you have panelists representing Chinese and Korean companies, as well as local academics focused on artificial intelligence. Can you tell us more about the reasoning behind that?

Ms. Henshaw: By changing from the Chinese New Year Business Forum to a Lunar New Year Business Forum, we wanted to highlight the importance of inclusivity, not only from a cultural viewpoint but as well an economic one.

Mr. Yu: Well said, Kimberly. Lunar New Year is celebrated by all Asian cultures. Looking into the Atlanta local mainstream, we need to do a better job of educating Atlanta firms on doing business in all of Asia — there are less than a handful of Asian experts in town — not just one country or two.


What takeaways can attendees expect from your expert speakers in sectors?

Mr. Yu: That there are opportunities here back home, as well as in Asia if they want to grow their business, tapping into resources available in town and even elsewhere, like the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in New York, which offers many free services to connect importers and exporters.


How will networking be incorporated into the program?

Ms. Henshaw: We encourage all attendees to arrive in time to enjoy the reception, not only for the delicious food that will be offered, but the opportunity to network and meet with a variety of Atlanta professionals in advance of the program.

As an educational institution, what is GSU’s ideal outcome from this event? How does it further the university’s goals of engagement in Asia?

Ms. Henshaw: The ideal outcome for this event for the Office of International Initiatives at Georgia State is to continue to build upon our interdisciplinary synergies and expand global opportunities for faculty, staff, students and our Atlanta-area colleagues. Fostering an exciting environment to collaborate, innovate and form engaged partnerships with far-reaching impact. Asian countries, students and visiting scholars are integral to Georgia State, so whether at home or abroad, they’re vital partners.

Anything else we should look out for?

Ms. Henshaw: We’re excited to welcome PhD student Vicki Lu, who is majoring in Ethnomusicology at UGA in traditional Chinese music, to perform during the reception!

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Learn more about the event and see the full slate of speakers:

A Rebalanced Asia: The Role of AI, Data Management, and EVs