FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept 22, 2008
Los Angeles County Embarks On Landmark
Trade Mission To China
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Supervisor
Antonovich to Lead Delegation with World
Trade Center
Association
LA-Long
Beach and the LAEDC to
Strengthen Vital Trade Pacts
Los Angeles, Sept. 22, 2008 -- Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich will lead
a trade mission to China supported by the World Trade Center Association Los Angeles-Long
Beach and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC).
To encourage direct investment
from China to Los Angeles County, the
delegation will be in Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, and Dalian from September 21-30, 2008, and will participate in the World Economic Forum’s New Champions meeting in Tianjin.
The itinerary includes “invest in Los Angeles County” conferences and meetings with
Chinese companies in the following industries: Motor Vehicles and Accessories;
Computer and Telecommunications; Utilities and Utility Equipment; Metals and Metal
Products; and Transportation and Logistics.
The delegation is also meeting with companies interested in a logistics
hub, research and development or design center, and headquarters or representative
offices for marketing in Los Angeles County.
“Los Angeles County is the gateway to the North American market,” said Supervisor
Antonovich. “Our two ports handle approximately $200 billion in trade with China annually. With 244,000
business establishments, 38,000 Asian-owned businesses and more than 400,000 Chinese
residents, Los Angeles County welcomes Chinese investment.”
“This is an unprecedented opportunity
to promote business investment from China to Los Angeles County,” said Vance Baugham, president of the World Trade Center
Association Los Angeles – Long Beach.
“This mission is designed to harness a key portion of the extraordinary growth that is happening in China now.”
“Los Angeles
County is home to more than 4,500 foreign-owned
businesses,” said Bill Allen, president and CEO
of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. “Foreign direct investment
creates jobs for more than 359,000 workers in L.A.
County which represents nearly 10 percent
of all private-sector workers in the County. Our mission is designed to attract more investment
to create more such jobs in our region”
About
the WTCA (www.wtca-lalb.org)
The World Trade Center Association Los Angeles – Long Beach works to support the 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 also promotes the Los Angeles region as a destination
for foreign investment. The World Trade Center Association LA – Long Beach is a subsidiary of the Los
Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. For more information, please visit www.wtca-lalb.org
or call +1 (213) 680-1888 or +1 (562) 495-6075.
About LAEDC
(www.LAEDC.org)
LAEDC, the region’s premier business
leadership organization, is a private, non-profit organization established in
1981 under section 501(C) (3). Its mission is to attract, retain, and grow business
and jobs for the regions of Los Angeles County. Since 1996, the
LAEDC has helped retain or attract more than 145,000 jobs, providing $6.3 billion
in direct economic impact from salaries and $105 million in annual tax revenue
benefit to local governments and education in Los Angeles County. Visit www.laedc.org or call (888) 4-LAEDC-1.
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