IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 27, 2008
World Trade Center Association, LAEDC and City of
Long Beach to Lead Joint Trade Mission to India
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LA County set to capture
unprecedented business development
opportunities in one of the largest economies in the world
LOS ANGELES -- Southern California
business and government leaders will travel to India
for a trade mission to promote and strengthen ties between the regions.
The delegation -- including officials from the World Trade Center
Association Los Angeles-Long Beach, the Los Angeles County Economic Development
Corporation, the City of Long Beach
and the Long Beach International Trade Office -- will be in India
March 2-9. The delegation will include representatives of the City of Los
Angeles International Trade office and the Los Angeles
Board of Airport Commissioners.
Officials will introduce local and regional engineering, technology
and transportation-related companies doing business with the Port
of Long Beach and Los
Angeles to their Indian counterparts.
The trade mission is being supported by the U.S. Embassy in New
Delhi, the U.S.
consulates in Mumbai and Kolkata, and the West Bengal Chamber of Commerce.
Long Beach City Councilmember Dr. Suja Lowenthal said the visit will
help fulfill his pledge to Kolkata Mayor Shri Bikash Bhattacharya to strengthen
ties between the sister cities.
"The timing could not be better for both cities with their
businesses and governments focused on expanding opportunities and improving
relations,” said Lowenthal.
India's
economy, the world's 12th largest, is expected to grow exponentially in the
coming decades to meet rising demand in Europe, Asia
and the United States.
Vance Baugham, president of the World Trade Center Association
Los Angeles-Long Beach, called the mission "an unprecedented
opportunity" to promote business between India
and LA County.
New Delhi, Mumbai and
Kolkata are modernizing their air and sea ports, and will require companies
with expertise in designing, planning and developing infrastructure.
“That expertise exists in Los Angeles County, which is home to
the Port of Long Beach and neighboring Port of Los Angeles, together making up
the largest port complex in the Americas and fifth largest in the world,"
said LAEDC President and CEO Bill Allen.
About the WTCA
The World Trade Center Association Los Angeles – Long Beach, a subsidiary of the Los
Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, supports development of
international trade and business opportunities for Southern California companies as the leading
international trade association, trade service organization and trade resource
in Los Angeles County. It promotes the Los Angeles region as a destination
for foreign investment. Please visit www.wtca-lalb.org or call (213) 680-1888.
About the LAEDC
The LAEDC, the region’s premier
business leadership organization, is a private, non-profit organization
established in 1981 under section 501(C) (3). Our mission is to attract,
retain, and grow business and jobs in Los Angeles County. Since 1996, the LAEDC has helped retain or
create more than 132,300 jobs, providing $5.6 billion in direct economic impact
from salaries and $95 million in annual tax revenue benefit to Los Angeles County. Please visit www.laedc.org
or call (888) 4-LAEDC-1.
[Editors: For media interviews please contact George McQuade, MAYO
Communications, (818) 340-5300 or PR@MayoCommunications.com.
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