Asia Trade Mission Update: Day 6 & China Recap

Friday, September 11, 2009

The trip thus far has opened my eyes to discover the breadth of the global connections revealed this week; indeed it is a small world in which we live. The Hoosier delegation is preparing to disperse from Hangzhou, China this morning. Some on to Tokyo, some heading back home to Indiana and others are off to other locations in China; David Bramlage of Cole Hardwoods moves on to Hong Kong today as a base of operation for meeting with his customers in southern China; Don Babcock with Nipsco, discovered a major customer based in China. Even in our own backyard, firms based in northeast Indiana like Do It Best and Fort Wayne Metals and many others have numerous connections in the developing Asian market with global firms Cummins and Lilly acted as cornerstones for the state's trade mission activities in China this week.

Global relationships were at the heart of Monday evening's reception for the Hoosier Club of Shanghai. The Hoosier Club in Shanghai is a recent development and to their pleasant surprise, Hoosier roots are prevalent in China. At first the club focused on reaching out to IU and Purdue alums; but now other, more remote but substantial Hoosier ties have been discovered in Asia. For example, I met Andrew Spaudie and his wife Nancy who are building a commercial interior design business in Asia. (Coincidentally, I previously met Andrew and Nancy, only by chance, about eighteen months ago in Indianapolis.)

The same evening, another connection hit even closer to home: Hansen Zhao is a Chinese attorney, educated at IU and now facilitating foreign direct investment into Indiana. Hansen and I have planned to meet soon on his next visit to Fort Wayne where he has visited many times before. Ron Gifford of the Indy Partnership was also very generous to share his personal connection through a dinner invitation with the Wangs, investment advisors out of Shanghai.

Thursday afternoon's seminar and dinner for businesses and entrepreneurs in Zhejiang, Indiana's sister China state, continued to provide the same connections as Monday had presented. Here, I met Wayne Perry. Wayne sat on the China side of the table during the seminar; I imagined by his seating that he had relocated to Zhejiang, worked for a Chinese firm, and was now ready for US growth. Not so, however.

Wayne's business card has an Indy address: His firm distributes Chinese products in the US and is currently considering a manufacturing presence. Later, he discovered our northeast Indiana address. Ironically and much to my surprise, his home is off of Dupont Road in Fort Wayne and we now have plans for dinner at a local restaurant, Paula's.

Connections and opportunity abound. Through conversations this past week we have discovered that the furniture manufacturer, the curtain and drape distributor and the provincial government of Zhejiang are all seeking our help to better understand the American culture and business environment. They are smart and willing investors, but inexperienced in our markets. While these connections may seem to occur by chance, the fact is that we are here as a consequence of intentional investment and deliberate preparation. Northeast Indiana will benefit by extending our experience to assist and guide our global partners.

Providing a positive note to the close of the Chinese seminar, Lydia Zheng of one of the largest Chinese manufacturers tossed a softball to Secretary of Commerce Mitch Roob: "What policies can you provide to Chinese firms seeking to locate in Indiana?" Roob responded, "Boy, have I got a deal for you."

-John Sampson