Tampa Bay International Business Council chairman is cultivating global connections

Miami, Orlando and Atlanta enjoy a reputation as southeastern U.S. hubs for international business. Huijun Yang of Safety Harbor wants the global community to include the Tampa Bay area on that list.

Yang led the launch of a reorganized group with a new name to connect companies that work internationally and to find ways to make Tampa Bay known as a global business force.

The organization, called the Tampa Bay International Business Council, held its kickoff Oct. 26 at the Brio Tuscan Grille at International Plaza.

The Times spoke with Yang about the organization and his role in developing it:

What is the Tampa Bay International Business Council?

We are a business organization. We are not a social organization. Some people think we are a social organization, but it's businesspeople. We are part of the International Business Summit. We used to be called the Tampa Bay International Trade Council. That organization started 50 years ago. This is under the Tampa Bay Chamber.

What are the council's goals?

Our mission is to give a voice to the international business community. Tampa Bay is part of global commerce. There are a lot of companies here that are doing business internationally. But they are not connected.

We're trying to create an international business community. The idea is to put Tampa Bay on the international business map … to attract investment here. We always try to compete with Miami, Orlando and Atlanta.

Who are the members of the council?

Our members include various chambers and associations. There are about a dozen associations and chambers — Chinese, Caribbean, British, French, Hispanic. Some just joined, like the Taiwanese chamber. Russia just joined. Others are welcome to join us. We are looking for them. We have three tiers. One is the governing board. They are all founders of a chamber. We have an advisory board … and the executive committee.

What is your role in the council and what is your background?

I am the chairman. I helped organize the council along with Bill Flynn, our president, and Charlotte Starfire, director of Global Trade Solution. They both have worked for and supported international business in our region for a long time.

As far as my background, I came to the U.S. from Peking University in 1985. I went to Florida State for my Ph.D.

After that I went to the University of Chicago as a researcher. I came back to Florida at the University of South Florida. Then I started doing business in 2000, first in commercial U.S. investment. I'm doing some venture capital investment.

What kind of research did you do?

It was science, atmospheric and ocean and mathematics. I even wrote a book.

If someone wants to get involved in the council, where can they find information?

They can contact us through the International Business Summit, www.ibsummit.org. Our major event is the International Business Summit. It is held in March. We do not have regular meetings, but this is our major event.

Ivan Penn can be reached at ipenn@sptimes.com or (727) 892-2332. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Consumers_Edge and find the Consumer's Edge on Facebook.