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Since the last Chapter Report was filed during the early part of October 2001, this report serves as an update for events over the past six months. The Southeast Asia chapter of the Academy of International Business (AIBSEAR) has been focusing on expanding its membership drive. The financial position of the Chapter is sound, the Chapter maintained a small surplus at the end of last financial year (ending March 31, 2002). Lingnan University continues to provide basic administrative support free of charge. There are several new initiatives under consideration, and this brief report summarizes these activities and projects:

1. Regional Conference 2002

The original AIBSEAR Conference was originally scheduled for the early part of July, which clashed with the AIB Annual Conference, June 28 to July 1, 2002. The new dates are set for July 18 to 20, 2002. Lingnan University, Hong Kong and the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics are co-organizers for this conference. With the review process just completed, we are expecting 120 papers with attendance projected at 160. The conference venue will be the Tong Mao Hotel in Putong, Shanghai, one of the host hotels for the recent APEC Meeting held in Shanghai.

The theme of the conference is WTO and Global Competition: A New Era for International Business. We are working hard to encourage participants from Mainland China, out target is for a 80:20 ratio for overseas versus local participants.

2. Next Year's Conference

The 2003 AIB Southeast Asia Regional Conference with the theme: Regional Cooperation, Strategic Alliances and World Business, is tentatively scheduled for July 17-19, 2003. The alternative sites under final consideration are Bangkok in Thailand and Penang in Malaysia.

3. New Initiatives

A Chapter Newsletter will be published three times per year. A new Executive Board will be formed to assist in specific program planning for specific countries within the region. With the existing AIB membership in Southeast Asia and Australia approaching 250, we are targeting for a membership drive to bring the number to 300. Given the increase in paper submission for the 2002 Conference, we believe that this is achievable goal.

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