Wednesday, July 05, 2017, 12:00 - 14:00
Choson Exchange: Training North Koreans in Economics & Entrepreneurship
Language: The speech and Q & A will be in English
The death of American university student Otto Wambier, who went into a coma after a North Korean court sent him to prison for stealing a propaganda poster while he was touring Pyongyang, has stimulated renewed debate about the pros and cons of foreign interaction with the long-isolated country.
The founders and managers of the nonprofit Choson Exchange have been involved in training North Koreans in economics, entrepreneurship and urban planning since 2010, holding programs both in and outside the DPRK.
Our speaker, an honorary fellow at Australia's Macquarie University, has been involved with Choson Exchange since 2010. In his talk he will describe social and economic changes that he believes were influenced by the organization’s work. And he will look ahead to predict further changes as more outside information reaches what has been becoming a highly market-oriented economy. He will discuss lessons for policy-makers in the United States, Japan, South Korea and other countries.
Andray Abrahamian is currently senior advisor to Choson Exchange, where he was Executive Director from 2012 to 2016. He has been a lecturer at the University of Yangon and at Ulsan University, teaching classes on East Asian development models and East Asian international relations. In addition to his current Choson Exchange role, he is chief analyst at Exera, a Yangon-based risk management company and a member of the U.S. National Committee on North Korea. He has just finished a book comparing Myanmar and North Korea.
Please reserve in advance, 3211-3161 or on the website(still & TV cameras inclusive). The charge for members/members' guest is 1,750/2,700 yen; non-members eligible to attend may pay in cash by e mail reservation (front@fccj.or.jp). (Menu:hamburger steak with chaliapin sauce) Reservations canceled less than one hour in advance for working press members, and 24 hours for all others, will be charged in full. Reservations and cancellations are not complete without confirmation. For meal service, please enter the room by 12:25.
Professional Activities Committee