The below is a general summary of the events and discussion at the May 2019 OKGIT meeting. It does not represent the official minutes, which will be distributed at a later date.

The decision of the hiring committee to hire Jared Scism as the executive director was affirmed by the group.

Desa Dawson with her gift from the OKGIT for her longtime service to the group.

Treasurer Randy Kellogg discussed the financial report and push for members to pay dues. The final few group members who have not paid for 2019 have been contacted and their memberships will lapse before the July meeting. In an effort to raise additional funds, corporate memberships will be available for OKGIT partners to purchase. The executive director will send out the membership listing to the group who can distribute it through their network.

In membership news, the group discussed adding Mark Stansberry and Marc Nuttle as emeritus memberships due to their longtime service to the group and institutional knowledge. Due to time constraints, the decision will be tabled to the next meeting in July.

Another emeritus member, John Neff, sent along with his written history of the OKGIT to the group for review and revisions. Group members are encouraged to review the document (sent by Jared Scism ahead of the meeting) and send their edits/suggestions in track changes back to John.

The group added three new members, Young Chappell, Muhammet Ali Sezer and Shalon Simmons.

The Education and Cultural Committee made the proposal for the OKGIT Ambassador Program for students at area universities. The group agreed it was a worthwhile endeavor and the committee will present a final plan for implementation at the July meeting.

Doug Price also shared Governor Kevin Stitt’s citation to the OKGIT for it’s organization of International Student Recognition Day at the capitol. The citation is online at okgit.wpengine.com/news.

Scott Thompson, program chair, is looking for additional program speakers in the coming year. November is set but July, September and January remain open. There are hopes that the July meeting will be available for Oklahoma Secretary of State Michael Rogers.

Rico Buchli spoke about past, present and upcoming Consular Corps activities including their  recent participation in the Asian Society of Oklahoma’s Asian Festival. Enrique Villar Gambetta, the honorary consul for Peru, is working with Oklahoma City to form new Sister City relationship. He also reported that Edmond is in talks with making sister city with an unnamed Peruvian city.

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture was at the United States Meat Export Federation meeting. She also sent word that with Japan’s recent opening of its market to U.S. beef could increase U.S. beef and beef product exports to by up to $200 million annually.

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce’s reports that ODOC will be applying for State Trade Export Promotion grant and working department of agriculture. Currently applying as Application Process deadline is Friday, June 7

The state Department of Education reported that Oklahoma will continue it’s paraprofessional teacher program. They have also signed an MOU with Spain that meets the needs of immersion programs in Spanish and English in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. A similar program for teachers from Puerto Rico is also ongoing. Western Heights Public Schools is planning to develop a dual language program.

The Secretary of State’s Office reports that the governor will meet with Canadian Consul General in the coming weeks.

The U.S. Department of Commerce said the 2020 World Trade Conference will take place in Tulsa, and announced an upcoming May 23 webinar for those interested in working for the Department of Commerce as an overseas trade representative.

USDOC also reported on the June 5-6 events in Tulsa, called Access Asia, where Oklahoma firms can learn about major export markets in Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia. Reach out to ODOC’s OKC or Tulsa representatives for more information.

Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Jim Collard discussed the upcoming Inter-Tribal International Trade Association summit in OKC June 2-4.

Preliminary planning for fall Consular Summit also began. Tentative countries discussed were:

  • Italy, India, Mexico, Canada, Guatemala, France, UK, Germany, South Korea, Japan, China, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, Australia

The OKGIT is waiting on dates from the governor to finalize – but looking at late September-late October as possible. The group would like to narrow countries down to ten invitees.  Anyone who is interested in sponsoring a dinner, volunteering or suggestions of what countries to invite can contact Jared Scism and Jim Collard to be added to the planning committee. The planning committee will begin regular conference calls in the coming weeks.

Last but certainly not least, longtime member Desa Dawson was recognized at the meeting for her contributions to the OKGIT and presented with a globe for a gift. She will continue as an emeritus member going forward.

Representative Mark McBride talks with students at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

Representative Mark McBride talks with students at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

What looked unlikely a few months ago came to fruition on April 3 as international students from universities across Oklahoma joined Governor Kevin Stitt, Secretary for Native American Affairs Lisa Billy and more than a dozen state legislators for International Student Recognition Day at the Capitol.

Former State Legislator Travis Dunlap was the point person in organizing the event at the capitol in prior years. With his departure coinciding with a changeover in OKGIT leadership at the start of 2019 made the task of organizing the event – taking place the same day as the Oklahoma World Trade Conference – seem unlikely.

Fortunately for the OKGIT, Representative Mark McBride heard about the event and stepped into the preparations. With OKGIT Chair Douglas Price of Tulsa Community College and OKGIT member Jared Scism of the University of Central Oklahoma, the 2019 event came together on a very tight timeline. More than 40 students from 37 countries who are currently enrolled at six Oklahoma higher learning institutions visited the statehouse and heard about the business of governing from speakers like Governor Stitt, Secretary Billy and Representative McBride.

The day offered an opportunity for all. Students hailing from governing systems across the political spectrum got to see the day-to-day legislative process of representative government while in session. Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s elected leaders got to meet individuals who have left home to live and study in the Sooner State.

To learn more about the Oklahoma Governor’s International Team partnerships with international student and study abroad programs, please visit okgit.wpengine.com/education

Trade representatives from nine countries met with Oklahoma government and business leaders ahead of the 2019 World Trade Conference at the Oklahoma International Trade Representative Reception on April 2. The event, hosted and organized by the Oklahoma Governor International Team using funding from the Oklahoma Business Roundtable and CCK Strategies, brought more than 100 people to the Petroleum Club Oklahoma City to network and discuss opportunities to connect Oklahoma with international commerce and trade opportunities.

The nations attending included:

  • Mexico
  • Canada
  • Japan
  • Belgium
  • South Korea
  • Guatemala
  • Taiwan
  • The United Kingdom
  • France

The OKGIT, OKBR and event sponsor CCK Strategies of Tulsa worked alongside the Governor’s Economic Development Marketing Team and staff from the U.S. Department of Commerce and Oklahoma Department of Commerce to make the event a success. It was a busy week for Oklahoma’s international ties, with the following day’s 2019 Oklahoma World Trade Conference taking place at MetroTech OKC concurrent with the International Student Recognition Day at the Oklahoma Capitol.

The deadline is closing soon, but if you’re an Oklahoma-based company in search of a stable market with solid partnership opportunities, look north to our largest trade partner.

StitchCrew is working with the government of Canada to identify 10 U.S. companies interested in exploring investment, trade or R&D opportunities with Canadian firms.

No sectors are ruled out, but there is a particular focus on firms interested in energy, aerospace or Native American Tribal-owned firms.

The deadline for applying is Wednesday, Mar. 27, 2019. Application link is here.

Reach out to Erika Lucas at StitchCrew for more information.

 

In an effort to better connect our members, we wanted to send out a brief, unofficial report on May 16’s meeting. This does not supplant nor replace the minutes, which will be distributed closer to our July 18, 2017 meeting.

Due to a scheduling conflict we held our meeting at the new offices of Catholic Charities OKC, where their Executive Director Patrick Raglow welcomed the OKGIT to their Chickasaw Conference Center and gave a brief summary of his organization’s work in the community. Learn more about Catholic Charities OKC here, and contact them if you’re in need of a meeting place in central OKC, their venue is top notch and very affordable.

After a brief discussion on the professional backgrounds and qualifications, the group voted on new members. The OKGIT’s newest members are Jane Kuchko, Vice-Provost for Global Education at the University of Tulsa, and Peggy Millikin, a registered patent and trademark attorney with extensive experience in international and national intellectual property law.

Representative Travis Dunlap joined the meeting and discussed the April 2017 International Day at the Capitol, which was ultimately cancelled due to construction at the state capitol building. Further discussions will be held closer to next year’s event for better coordination and preparation between Rep. Dunlap’s office, the OK Secretary of State’s office and the OKGIT.

Oklahoma Consular Corps Representative Rico Buchli noted that Edmond is in the process of solidifying a sister city agreement with a Chinese municipality of Qingyang, which will hopefully be finalized later this year.

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Trade, Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Oklahoma Department of Education gave updates on their offices’ respective work and events in the coming summer months. For a listing of these events, please see our OKGIT calendar by clicking here.

Recently appointed Oklahoma Secretary of State Dave Lopez joined the meeting as the invited guest speaker, giving a summation of his recent work and plans for the rest of his term that runs until 2018. After discussing the ongoing budget negotiations at the capitol as the legislative session closed, Secretary Lopez also mentioned research his office had conducted for apprenticeship programs available in Oklahoma. The list of these programs can be found here.

Chris Morriss, chief of protocol in the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office, mentioned that Guatemala will have an honorary consul in Oklahoma City in the coming year.

The group also agreed on an initial guest list for the September 6-7 Oklahoma Consular Summit for 2017. The initial guest list was decided due to existing trade and commercial relationships between Oklahoma and these nations.

  • Canada
  • U.K.
  • Germany
  • Belgium
  • Netherlands
  • Ireland
  • Switzerland
  • Australia
  • Italy
  • France

The OKGIT will hold its next bi-monthy meeting: Tuesday, July 18, 2017 at 9 a.m. at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

If you are or know of a member that is not receiving emails or is not on the membership section of the website, please email me at info@okgit.com or theokgit@gmail.com

Oklahoma’s 39 federally recognized Indian Nations provide the state with a unique cultural, economic and governmental service facets that only a few other American states posses. This summer, the state’s largest university will host an organization that seeks to capitalize on these tribes’ impact by connecting them with First Nations in Canada, when the International Inter-tribal Trade and Investment Organization hosts its three day trade mission and conference in Norman, Oklahoma.

Given tribes unique standing in the United States as dependent sovereign nations, and Canada’s own specific designation for its First Nations communities, the IITIO seeks to expand the possibility of developing commerce and even international trade between these groups. Despite rumblings of significant changes to the NAFTA agreement by the White House, there remains significant potential for trade ties to develop between these bodies given that Canada is the U.S.’s second largest trade partner. Oklahoma’s single largest trade partner is also Canada.

To see the conference agenda and register, which is free, please visit here.