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King County Trade Mission to China
For Businesses and Organizations in the Puget Sound Region
Take part in a special opportunity to advance your commercial ties in China!
November 9 – November 20, 2007
**Learn more about this exciting business opportunity and have your questions answered at an Information Session taking place on Monday, September 24, 2007, from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm at:
The King County Executive's Office
Executive Conference Room
The Columbia Tower
701 Fifth Ave.
Suite 3210
Seattle, WA 98104
Please respond to Allison Clark, allison.clark@metrokc.gov, if you are interested in attending.**
The King County Office of Business Relations and Economic Development is pleased to announce the upcoming Trade Mission to China for companies and organizations interested in developing the necessary relationships for success in China's dynamic economy. For assistance in finding business partners in China or developing key relationships in counterpart organizations or government, this unique professional exchange will be tailored to meet your objectives.
The Trade Mission is scheduled to take place November 9 – November 20. Through individualized guidance, the Mission will be customized per the needs and interests of your company or organization. With initial visits to Beijing and Shanghai, other cities will be designated based on the specific goals of those participating. In addition, a specialized agenda will be developed to include sessions on intellectual property rights, import/export issues, contracting opportunities, freight forwarding and shipping, as well as meetings with Chinese officials in various branches of government including the Ministry of Commerce.
All aspects of the King County Trade Mission will be arranged, such as introductions to your Chinese counterparts and potential business partners; seminars and conferences; access to Chinese law experts; tours of cultural, industrial, and educational facilities; formal and informal professional meetings; study tours; alternate itineraries for spouses and partners, and travel arrangements.
The King County Trade Mission is an excellent means to explore business opportunities, facilitate commercial and educational ties with Chinese counterparts, and further develop important contacts in Chinese industry and government.
Included:
- Roundtrip airfare
- Complete planning of your private Trade Mission
- Arrangement of meetings with potential business partners in China
- Interpreters
- National and/or local guides
- Sightseeing
- All transportation related to the program while in China
- Entrance fees
- 10 nights accommodation in first class hotels
- All meals
- Gratuities
- Comprehensive documents (detailed itinerary, local maps, etc.)
- Business invitation from China
- Chinese travel visa
- Alternate custom program for spouses and partners during your business meetings
- Basic medical and travel insurance within China
- Orientation prior to departure to China
- Pre-trip import/export information session
Fees and Payment Schedule:
A nonrefundable deposit of $600 is due on September 25, 2007. Only personal checks or money orders are accepted for deposit payments. Final payment can be made with cash, check, money order, Visa, or MasterCard and will be required by October 4, 2007.
- Total Cost: $5,000 - $5,500 per person, all inclusive except personal expenses.
- Information Session: September 24, 2007, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm.
- Regular registration and deposit deadline: September 25, 2007.
- Final Payment deadline: October 4, 2007
Early registration is suggested as space is limited.
For further details and registration information, please contact:
Allison Clark
King County Office of Business Relations and Economic Development
Telephone: 206-296-1939
Email: Allison.clark@metrokc.gov
The November, 2007 King County Trade Mission is organized by the Redmond, WA-based WTE, Inc. and the China Workers' Center for International Exchange (CWCIE) in Beijing, PRC. For more information about the organizing partners, please visit the WTE, Inc. website at: www.wte-usa.com or view the attached PDF (1.63MB).
Read the King County Press Releases: www.metrokc.gov/exec/news/2007/0910trademission.aspx
www.metrokc.gov/exec/news/2007/0917trademission.aspx
Read about China in the news:
- During his recent visit to Seattle, Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Zhou Wenzhong, stated that China would like to see more small to mid-sized players expanding their business to China. To read more, click here: China and Seattle: inseparable
- Overseas growth in China means business for the West, particularly for Puget Sound regional businesses. Click here to read more: Export destination: China
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The Export Promotion Program is a project that originated from the Southwest King County Economic Development Initiative, a partnership dedicated to business development and opportunities for business growth in southwest King County. Partners include the cities of southwest King County, the Port of Seattle, Highline Community College, and King County.
The Export Promotion Program is designed to encourage small and medium-sized businesses in King County to become involved in exporting. Through the program, the rewards and financial benefits of exporting are highlighted in order to motivate more businesses to sell their products and services overseas. Exporting, in turn, aids in the development of the local economy and increases employment in the Puget Sound region.
The Export Promotion Program is funded by Initiative partners and a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
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For detailed information about the 2005 Export Promotion Symposium, view the promotional flyer: Page One (541 KB. pdf) and Page Two . (397 KB .pdf)
The 2005 Export Promotion Symposium was held on March 23 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center located in downtown Seattle. King County was pleased to partner in this endeavor with the Trade Development Alliance, the U.S. Export Assistance Center, the Washington Council on International Trade, and the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. The program highlighted the benefits and ease of exporting for small and medium-sized businesses and attracted over 150 business leaders, government officials, and trade specialists from throughout the region.
The Symposium showcased renowned export professionals who shared the freshest thinking on export trends and opportunities in two main exporting sectors, manufacturing and software. John Powers, President and CEO of enterpriseSeattle, presided over the Symposium as the event's Master of Ceremonies. King County Executive Ron Sims and Port Commissioner Bob Edwards welcomed the Symposium attendees and presented introductory remarks. Both discussed the importance of international trade and the relevance of exporting for the health of the Puget Sound regional economy.
Jeff Ake, President and CEO of Equipment Express, was again the keynote speaker for the Export Promotion Symposium. He served as keynote speaker at King County's 2004 Symposium. He discussed the importance of exporting for his firm and included useful tips for companies interested in expanding their sales into international markets. According to Ake, EXPORTING IS JUST GETTING AN ORDER OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
Gleb Tchaikovski, Director of International Sonar Sales for WESMAR Western Marine Electronic, discussed sector trends in exporting, identified global opportunities for manufacturers, and offered advice on how companies can be more competitive internationally. Similarly, Wistar Kay, Business Development Manager at the Washington State Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, discussed the state of the services sector in exports, specifically describing industry trends and opportunities in the software and high-technology industries.
Two companies, Armstrong Lumber and Attachmate, were featured as exporting success stories. Tod Sakai, General Manager at Armstrong Lumber, described his company's path to exporting success, particularly in Japanese and Korean markets. Kendal Callison provided an overview of Attachmate, a major software company, and discussed important exporting lessons that were learned as Attachmate expanded into international markets.
A special country profile on China was provided by Margaret Lu, an attorney for Davis Wright Tremaine, one of the first law firms to open law offices in mainland China. She highlighted China's enormous economic potential and discussed current opportunities and challenges for businesses interested in doing business in China.
An Information and Resource Gallery was held immediately following the Symposium which showcased corporate sponsors and representatives from a range of exporting service companies including shippers, freight forwarders, international banks, and public and private export resource organizations.
We are pleased that the following organizations and companies were sponsors of the 2005 Export Promotion Symposium: the Port of Seattle, Davis Wright Tremaine, enterpriseSeattle, KeyBank, US Bank, and Commerce Bank. In addition, the Puget Sound Business Journal served as our media sponsor and published a special supplement dedicated to exporting issues and the Symposium event.
The Export Promotion Symposium and supporting export promotion efforts are made possible by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
For further information about King County's Export Promotion Program, please contact: Allison Clark, Export Promotion Coordinator, King County Office of Business Relations and Economic Development, Tel: 206-296-1939 . Email: Allison.clark@metrokc.gov.
For detailed information about the 2004 symposium agenda and guest speakers: View the 2004 promotional flyer (187KB .pdf)
This half-day symposium, held on February 4, 2004, underscored the benefits and ease of exporting and offered suggestions and guidance on obtaining overseas sales leads, acquiring export financing and transporting goods overseas among other topics.
The symposium featured exporting specialist Jeff Ake, a nationally recognized entrepreneur, exporter and president of Equipment Express. King County Executive Ron Sims and Port of Seattle Commissioner Pat Davis gave opening remarks.
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