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Washington State Commerce Department and the Washington State China Relations Council jointly held a press conference to announce Washington small and midsized businesses (SMBs) to exhibit at the first-ever China International Import Expo (CIIE).

SEATTLE – June 13, 2018 – Washington State Commerce Department (“Commerce”) and the Washington State China Relations Council (“WSCRC”) announced on Wednesday that about 20 small and medium businesses from Washington State will exhibit at the first China International Import Expo (“CIIE”) in Shanghai, November 5-10. With the support of WSCRC and its member company Pacific Technologies Consulting Group (“PTCG”), Commerce has marketed CIIE, organized a delegation to attend, and offered the Export Voucher which assists small business owners by offsetting the cost of attending CIIE. This is the first time that Washington State has organized SMBs to attend an Expo event in China.

CIIE is slated to be the largest import trade show in China. CIIE announced that as of June 1, 2018, over 1,300 companies from more than 120 countries and regions had already registered to attend CIIE. It is estimated that up to 150,000 professional buyers from both China and abroad will participate in the Expo.

The CIIE was announced by China’s President Xi Jinping in 2017 and is hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. CIIE is additionally receiving support from the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. The Expo affirms China’s resolve to display its commitment to inclusive globalization as well as its eagerness to further open its market to foreign traders.

The Washington State Commerce Department has chosen to leverage the opportunity for global exposure afforded by attendance to the CIIE. Washington businesses will exhibit together under the Commerce Department’s “Choose Washington” in order to attract increased attention, traffic and awareness of the many exports the region has to offer. Together with WSCRC, and with the support of PTCG and multiple local Chinese American organizations, Commerce has led the effort to communicate the strategic potential that attendance to CIIE offers to businesses. In order to simplify registration for attendance to CIIE, Commerce has facilitated a sign up process exclusively for WA businesses who plan to attend as part of the delegation.

The June 13 press conference was held at the Nan Hai USA office in Kirkland. Seattle local media, CIIE event service representatives from Shanghai and WA exhibitors attended the event. Victor Chan, WSCRC Board Director, welcomed attendees and shared a brief history of Washington’s connection to China and how WSCRC has served as a bridge between Washington state and China since 1979. Commerce Assistant Director Chris Green emphasized that Washington ranks as one of the nation’s most trade-dependent states, with China is as a major market for Washington exports. Green believes that CIIE will be a great opportunity for Washington companies to make business deals and sign contracts. Green further explained Commerce’s CIIE exhibition plans and the process of offsetting attendance costs through the Export Voucher program.

Andy Cheung, CEO of Donghao International (“DHI”), co-organizer for CIIE’s High-end Intelligent Equipment Show, represented CIIE at the press conference. Cheung explained the significance of CIIE, the process of attending CIIE, and tips for a successful exhibit. Michelle Zou, WSCRC Board Director and CEO PTCG, facilitated the press conference with over 60 attendees.

About Washington State China Relations Council (WSCRC)

Founded in 1979, Washington State China Relations Council is the nation’s leading statewide organization dedicated to promoting stronger commercial, educational and cultural engagement with China. http://wscrc.org/

About Pacific Technologies Consulting Group (PTCG)

PTCG is a strategic consulting firm that helps companies seize US-China opportunities and grow business in today’s rapidly evolving business environment. It specializes in helping American companies enter into the China market and vice versa. http://www.ptcgconsulting.com/

On January 29, 2018, the WSCRC launched the Corporate Executive Briefing Series, a new series of conversations which aims to provide a unique venue in which Washington business owners and executives can substantively increase their knowledge of commercial engagement with and in China.

Allison Clark, Managing Director of Business Development at the Washington State Department of Commerce, joined WSCRC to offer insights into the investment landscape of Washington in this inaugural session of the series. At the Washington State Department of Commerce, Allison heads a team that specializes in attracting investment to the state. During her term she has witnessed a massive increase in foreign investment in the region, particularly from China.

With its “ravenous consumption culture,” intellectual property protection laws, and reputation for market certainty and consistency, the U.S. is the world’s most attractive consumer market and has the highest confidence index for FDI. Allison outlined the multifarious factors which give Washington an edge in the race to attract investment, which include a growth-oriented culture, an educated workforce, low-cost power, and a pro-business environment. Additionally, Washington houses major clusters of technology industries while Seattle is increasingly a global hub for exports, boasting the West Coast’s fastest shipping lines to Asia.

Allison further discussed tactics employed by the Department of Commerce to foster interest in the region and confirm investment deals for Washington companies and enterprises. “From an economic standpoint, it’s a very good strategy to grow what you already have,” she pointed out, “cultivating inbound investment becomes an economic tool for us.” Allison’s team proactively locates leads on potential investment projects which could lead to job creation in the state, as evidenced in several recent cases where the department has facilitated closures on large foreign investments.

Entities represented at the Corporate Executive Briefing Series included the Washington Technology University, Old Republic Title, Port of Seattle, Greenfield Advisors, and Mercer Island Telecom, among others. Special thanks to K&L Gates for providing the venue for this event.

Summary Author: Trudy Boothman

Washington State SMBs to Exhibit at China International Import Expo (CIIE) under “Choose Washington” Brand

Washington State Investment Insights: China and the World

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