Noted trade expert, diplomat to speak on global economy

Robert Zoellick Download Photo

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Robert Zoellick, senior fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and former president of the World Bank Group, U.S. deputy secretary of state and trade representative, will give the James C. Snyder Memorial Lecture on April 12 at Purdue University.

The 39th  annual lecture, named for the late Purdue agricultural economics professor, takes place 1:30-3 p.m. in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall and highlights a day of events hosted by Purdue's Department of Agricultural Economics. Other activities are a panel discussion on world agriculture and an awards program.

All events are free and open to the public.

Zoellick will speak on the topic "The Changing Global Economy of the 21st Century: Prospects and Challenges."

"Robert Zoellick will address the challenges and potential for development of the global economy in the century ahead," said Wally Tyner, Purdue agricultural economist and chairman of the Department of Agricultural Economics' seminar committee.

Zoellick's resume includes high-level positions in both the public and private sectors. He's served as deputy assistant secretary for financial institutions policy and counselor to the secretary in the U.S. Treasury Department, undersecretary of state for economic and agricultural affairs and counselor in the U.S. Department of State, and deputy chief of staff for President George H.W. Bush.

He was U.S. trade representative under President George W. Bush, where he completed or began negotiations for trade agreements with Jordan, Chile, Singapore, Morocco, Bahrain, the five countries of Central America, the Dominican Republic, Australia, Peru, Columbia, Vietnam, African nations, the Andean countries and the Caribbean states. Zoellick was nominated by the younger Bush to replace Paul Wolfowitz as president of the World Bank, a post Zoellick held from 2007-12.

In the private sector, Zoellick was vice chairman, international, of the Goldman Sachs Group and later was managing director and chairman of its Board of International Advisors.

"It's a rare opportunity to host a speaker like Robert Zoellick, who has both political and private sector perspectives on global economic issues," Tyner said.

Zoellick also will participate in the 10 a.m. panel discussion in Fowler Hall preceding his lecture. Other panelists for "The Future of Global Agriculture" discussion are Thomas Hertel, Purdue agricultural economist and founder and executive director of the Purdue-based Global Trade Analysis Project; John Hardin, Indiana pork producer and member of the Purdue Board of Trustees; and Allan Gray, director of Purdue's Center for Food and Agricultural Business. Tyner will serve as moderator.

"The discussion will touch on important issues related to agriculture, agriculture's role in the global economy and the U.S.'s role in the global agricultural economy," Tyner said.

Following Zoellick's lecture, the scene shifts to the Krannert Building auditorium, where the Department of Agricultural Economics will present the Apex Awards. The annual awards honor individuals with a strong connection to the department who have made significant contributions to agriculture, business or economics.

For more information about the James C. Snyder Memorial Lecture, visit the event's website at http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/news/snyder/

Writer: Steve Leer, 765-494-8415, sleer@purdue.edu

Source: Wally Tyner, 765-494-0199, wtyner@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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