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Summary US study tour on GOOD GOVERNANCE. With a 14-member team From Oct 2 nd to 20 th 2007 sponsored by US-Vietnam Trade Council Education Forum Pursuant to a grant from the Office of Citizen Exchanges U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
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SummaryUS study tour on GOOD GOVERNANCE With a 14-member team From Oct 2nd to 20th 2007 sponsored by US-Vietnam Trade Council Education Forum Pursuant to a grant from the Office of Citizen Exchanges U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Delegate composition • Diverse background: central, local governmental agencies, academics, business leaders, civic agents from 3 regions • English speaking • Autonomous and self-sufficient • Shopping maniac
3 Pillar group MoIT MPI Govern-ment DNIPC MoET Academia Knowledge & Network HYBA Business Non-Govern-ment YBA USVTC JCI DNDS Firm VUFO
MoIT MPI Government DNIPC MoET Academia Knowledge & Network HYBA Business Non-Government YBA USVTC JCI DNDS Firm VUFO
Itinerary • Hanoi-Tokyo-Dallas-DC • DC-Chicago-Tulsa • Tulsa-Okcity-Tulsa • Tulsa-Dallas-Tokyo-Hanoi
Washington DC Governance issues at the Federal level
Oct 3rd • Lincoln Memorial • WWII Monument • Washington Monument • Union Station • Individual interests
Oct 4th • Department of Commerce: • Phong: Vietnam desk • Transparency, Trade press • Department of State • Project sponsor: Mr. Clint Wright Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Foreign policy, Cultural exchange • Justice Project • John Terzano,Vietnam war veterans • Former Ambassador Pete Peterson • Legal assistance to the disadvantageous citizens • The Heritage Foundation • Walter Lohman • Well established, American conservative think tankal
Oct 5th • IIAP: • Michael Schlesinger • Articles on Vietnam • CSIS • Roderick Hills/Jerry Hyman • Corruption cases throughout the world • Embassy of Vietnam • Minh/Hai/Thach • Suggestion for sensitive issues: human rights. Encouraging business brokerages • Sidley Austin LLP: • Practical case of “Made in China”
Oct 6th • Free for sight seeing • Airport for Tulsa: domestic check-in • Barry and Dessie to pick up at the Tulsa airport • Hotel improvement: breakfast, internet, laundry, shopping proximity
Oklahoma State Governance issues at the State level
Coming up next in Tulsa • Monday: • Program briefing • Citizen diplomacy and involvement in int’l affairs • Tuesday • Local Gov in the US (AM) • Citizen Participation in Local Gov (PM) • Local Gov Executive Branch • Regional Gov (INCOG) • Wednesday • Civil Society at Work • Meeting the Tulsa City Mayor • Early childhood program and services • Charitable campaign and organizations • Foreign trade zones and biz development partnerships
Oct 8th • Summary of the first week • Citizen diplomacy and involvement in international affairs: • Heritage building donated by wealthy oil businessman • Tulsa Global Alliance initiated sisterhood with various cities around the world using fund raised from the community • Country-specific cultural functions: India, China, Vietnam
Oct 9th • University of Oklahoma: • Local Government structure • Relation to the Federal Gov system • Local Gov’s rights and limits • Attend the local voting day: tax rise for river dam project • Tulsa City Council: meet elected councilors • INCOG: city planning and mapping
Oct 10th • Community service council of Tulsa • Various programs on pre-natal, early childhood, family reconciliation… • Call center 211 • EduCare: • Warren Buffet foundation, 2 in Tulsa for low income family, using creative curriculum • City Mayor • Sharp reformist: city safety, environment, education, business development, international cooperation… • United way • Raising funds for charity operation across Tulsa area • Tulsa Port of Catoosa • Efficient operation • Strategic for Tulsa industry and logistical coverage
Further in Oklahoma city • Thursday • Current topics and technology application in local government (Norman city) • OK State Capital: • A day in the life of State Gov • The branches of Gov: legislative, executive, judiciary • Economic development – A top priority for State Gov • Higher Education – A critical link in responsible Governance • Entrepreneurship and innovation • Friday • Local Gov lobbying and representation • Small biz start up – Gov resources • Technology-based economic dvlmt and biz incubation (Stillwater) • Saturday • Food Bank in Eastern Oklahoma • Sunday: special program for Sister Huong (Claremore’s First Christian Church)
Thu Oct 11th • City of Norman • Mayor • Police department • GIS department • Treasurer • Weather news • State of OK Capitol • Secretary of State • Regents of Higher Education • Chief of Justice • Senator Dist 43 • Secretary of Commerce
Friday Oct 12th • OMAG: • Represents 455 municipalities cross OK • Public policy advocacy to the State agencies • OK-based People’s Power News: • Small business start-up experiences • Viet-kieu supports homeland in education and business development • Meridian Center of Biz Dvlmt: • Hi-tech park in mid of Uni campus • Incubation of technopreneurs • Spin-off for state industry development
Community voluntary work • Presentation of a food bank model • Industrial scale warehouse (modern logistical form) and continuing contribution by the society and industries • Nearly 800 food bags were prepared by the Vietnamese and DOC volunteers team
Sister’shappiness • With assistance of OK brightest kids, sister Huong has managed to raise some 1600USD for her school through a Sunday morning church session at the First Christian Church of Claremore • Her disabled children in Danang will be cheerful and warm with such generous gifts from OK citizens • Her busy mission will continue the following week
A Vietnamese cuisine offered at OK partners’ residence: I’m a citizen diplomat
Internship week • Monday to Friday • Uni of OK Center of Democracy and Culture (Tulsa): Dzung, Dat MOTI • OK DoC (Tulsa): Duong, Chien, Hang • Uni of OK Confucius Inst and Center for teaching Asia in the schools (Tulsa): Minh HN, An • OK Regents for Higher Edu with Bob Anthony (OKC): Son, Hai • Catholic Charities of OK (Tulsa): Sister Huong • Regional business development (Durant, Dallas-Ft. Worth region): Quynh, Minh DN • Friday: program wrap-up and farewell dinner • Saturday: off • Sunday: return home
Group 1: Minh, An • Dr. Jessica Stowell: Confucianism study and teaching Asia in OK schools • Dat to look for NGOs who are interested to cooperate with Vietnam
Group 2: Duong, Chien, Hang • SME promotion • Conducting workshops, training for business executives • Incubation Center revisit • Kauffman foundation: Entrepreneurship Support • How to support VN business entering US market • What are investment incentives to foreign, other state • Interaction b/w DOC and Federal, State agencies • Safety standard against imports, who issue c/o • Business Coaching for trade development • Statistics: Database for trade on wheat, corn • Commercial Planning
Group 3: Dzung, Dat • OK DOC vs. MOIT: Master Plans (business planning, zoning) • New Tech: bio-fuel, nanotech… • Education opportunities: Technical training • Campus planning: SPARKS, AIA • Student-centric activities: culture, welfare, academic supports • Innovation and School-Industry Linkage: business school networking • Business development: SEMGroup to invest in tank storage in Vietnam
Group 4: Hai, Son OKC • Robert Anthony arranged comprehensive program for meeting with lawyers, judges at city, state, federal courts
Group 5: Minh DN, Quynh • Travel to South of Oklahoma with Phil Scoggin, a consultant of Department of Commerce • Visit industries and attend city council meeting in Atoka (3000 habitants), visit commercial site in Choctaw, Durant • Visit Antler city: Ethanol production from sugar cane • Visit Dallas, a key center of Texas and US Mid West, meet with Cresa Partners – a large corporate real estate agency
Group 6: Sister Huong • Madona House where the unplaned pregnant mother is help to have a shelter and the necessary things (food,medecine, pychological support) to welcome the baby in to the world. • Adoption department: where i've learned the process of adoption the child • Saint Joseph House where the AIDS patients are helped to accept their condition in peaceful mind. • The Little Light House for the disabled children from their childhood stage (6 months - 6years old) • Saint John Nusing Home for the Elderly people. • Saint John Hospital
Lessons learnt from Federal to • Government: • Solid Constitution and Federal power: taxation, foreign affairs, army, FBI… • Decentralization in executive governance the territory of state/city/county/district: police, water, environment… • Different form of local government (strong mayor, council mayor) • Networked, well represented, down-to-earth legislators: Kenneth Corn • Strong woman in leadership: Susan Savage, Kathy Taylor, Kathleen Coan, … • Multi-skilling professionals: (Barry Clark, Dessie Apostolova) programming, coordination, transportation, hands on assistance, diplomacy, caring, honest and modest
…State of Oklahoma, to… • Business development: • Oil-gas, manufacturing, logistics, agriculture • Niche industry: weather, bio-fuel • Knowledge economy: nearly 30 universities in a state of just more than 3mill inhabitants • Investment in R&D: new University facilities have been built • CSR: Industries contribution and modern management in charity business (Foodbank model)
…cities of Tulsa, Norman… • Community development • Democracy: citizen voice, polling on critical matters, citizen diplomacy • Social development evolves around academic centers • Strong volunteer and philanthropy culture • Community services: volunteers, appreciation, modern management, technological application • Contribution from Claremore Christian Church community to Danang School for Disabled Children
Ideas for the next projects • Continued US Governance study for governmental, business, civic leaders • Web site: Bridging US-Vietnam economies • Support INNOVATE Vietnam Singapore tour
Web site idea: Vietnam Oklahoma business linkage • 3 pillars: Government-Business-NGO with education focus • Understanding of US (OK) and VN Business environment, opportunities and decision making process • Conceptual Design-Content Development-Technical implementation–Promotion-On-going update & support • Continue the momentum of US Good Governance Education study tour
Thank you God bless America, Vietnam and all of us