USD welcomes China delegation at inaugural American Visiting Institute for Chinese Real Estate
Nygaard will introduce Professor Bingquan Lu, his friend and associate, and speak about their friendship and building the “bridge” between South Dakota and China. Also participating will be South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture.
The institute will provide a delegation of about 40 business leaders from China, including Professor Lu, with a professional learning experience on the topic of private equity. The four-day session will include lectures, tours, and demonstrations of South Dakota’s agricultural and manufacturing capabilities as well as other activities. Lu, president and chief researcher of Beijing Bo Zhi Hang Research Institute of Commercial Real Estate, is considered a leading expert on business development. Lu will provide a lecture at 4:30 p.m. on April 25 at the Beacom School of Business Auditorium.
Other institute presenters include Steve Frost, partner at Chapman and Cutler LLP of Chicago, Ill.; Larry E. Christensen, a member of the Washington, D.C., law firm Miller & Chevalier; Steve Kirby, a founding partner of Bluestem Capital Co. in Sioux Falls, S.D; John Hemmingstad, Director at Avalon Capital Group, North Sioux City, S.D.; Lucas Lentsch, Director of Agricultural Development for the State of South Dakota; and Pat Costello, GOED Commissioner.
Frost will provide a lecture to the visiting Chinese delegation on “Private Equity Investment Funds and Issues for Investors.” Christensen, respected as an expert in foreign national investing in America, will address the U.S. income tax, tax consequences of visa strategies, certain state restrictions on investment, import relief planning, national security licensing and direct investment review. “Private Equity: Realizing the Entrepreneurial Dream” will be presented by Kirby, while Hemmingstad will speak on “Private Equity: An Investors Perspective.” Richard Benda is speaking on behalf of SDRC, Inc., an organization contracted by GOED to manage its Regional Center, on the topic of the USCIS EB5 Program while Lentsch and Costello will discuss investment opportunities in South Dakota.
Gov. Daugaard is scheduled to speak at an institute completion ceremony in Farber Hall, when the Chinese delegation will receive graduate certificates for the four-day professional learning experience.
The University of South Dakota is honored to host Professor Lu and his delegation. Lu believes South Dakota has numerous investment opportunities, and the Institute is designed to further explore those opportunities.
The institute is organized and under the direction of Dr. Laurie Becvar, USD Senior Associate Provost/Graduate Dean, and Dr. Ling Zhang, International Coordinator.