AUSTINãSt. Edward's University will host a business forum and luncheon with the Friendship Delegation from Austinês sister city, Oita, Japan, on Monday, Oct. 30. The business forum will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Jones Auditorium of the Ragsdale Center followed by a luncheon at noon in the Mabee Ballroom of the Ragsdale Center on St. Edward's campus. The delegation will include the Honorable Kunio Toyama, vice-governor of Oita Prefecture, Kinosuke Kinoshita, mayor of Oita City, and various business and civic leaders of Oita.

The event marks the 10th anniversary of the relationship between Austin and Oita, Japan, through the Austin-Oita Sister City Committee, founded in 1990, whose purpose is to foster goodwill between the cities of Austin, Texas, and Oita, Japan. The business forum and luncheon will serve as an opportunity to encourage business exchange between Austin and Oita in various areas. Interpreters will be available for translation.

The business forum and luncheon will include local leaders from Austin including: Mayor Kirk Watson, Earl Maxwell, chair of the Mayor's International Infrastructure Task Force; Janet Smith, president of the Greater Austin International Coalition; Mark Hazelwood, president of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce; Deirdre Mendez, Austin Software Council and Jan Triplett, Business Success Center.

Both events are free and open to the public, but reservations are required.

St. Edward's University is an independent, Catholic liberal arts university of 3,800 students in Austin. It was founded by the Congregation of the Holy Cross.