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Kathleen Achtenberg
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Michigan companies travel to China to expand export opportunities; Gov. Snyder looks to attract Chinese investment in state, create jobs
Business leaders from 10 Michigan companies are traveling to China this week meeting with prospective partners, distributors and buyers to increase export opportunities from Michigan to China. The July 29 – August 8 trade mission is led by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation International Trade Office.
“China continues to be an increasingly important and viable market for a wide range of products and services,” said Jennifer Nelson, chief business development officer and executive vice president of MEDC.
“This trade mission will open doors for these companies by helping them identify and enter into new relationships there,” she said. “These Michigan companies, with products ranging from pharmaceuticals to automotive components, will have a unique opportunity to reach new customers in the fastest-growing economy in the world.”
Delegates from the export mission will be attending one-on-one company meetings in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Shanghai. The matchmaking events include customized appointments with prospective partners, distributors and buyers in each region. The participants will also receive in-country briefings about doing business in China.
Orion Test Systems started operations in Shanghai in 2014 at the Michigan China Center, which was established in 2012 by MEDC to provide opportunities for Michigan companies to enter the Chinese market. Today, Orion operates an independent office in Shanghai with an established customer base and has seen an increasing need for its products in China over the last year. The company has participated in two previous MEDC-led trade missions.
“The 2017 China Trade Mission will allow our team to meet with potential customers from several regions of China and also meet with local vendors,” said Orion President Rob Pilat. “We expect our exports to China to increase substantially by the end of 2018 through cultivating our supply channel during the China trade mission.”
MEDC’s International Trade Program works to extend export opportunities to more Michigan companies and ensure they are connected with the resources to explore new markets, access existing export resources and increase global competitiveness.
In fiscal year 2016, the program facilitated $523.9 million in sales to 121 countries, 53 percent over the actual sales from the previous year. Since it was re-established in 2011, the program has facilitated $1.5 billion in export sales. This equates to nearly 7,298 Michigan jobs created as a result of those sales (MEDC considers $210,000 equals one job).
Business leaders and economists estimate enormous potential growth opportunities for Michigan in China:
To contact a business development specialist, click here or call 1.888.522.0103.