Thank you for all your support in making the September 12th meeting a great
success. The event attracted an over capacity crowd of 200+. From the
networking to the questions and answers everyone seemed to be enjoying
themselves. I was fortunate to open the meeting welcoming everyone and
provide some of my business experience in Qingdao.
Mr. Tian De You, Director of Economic & Commercial of Economic &
Commercial
Consul of Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Chicago was
the next person to welcome Vice Mayor Mr.Yu Chong and his delegation to
Chicago. He also thanked the audience for their participation at this
meeting.
Helen Yang China Manager Jerry R. Mitchell and Associates Inc.welcomed
everyone and told of her 21 year friendship with Mr.Yu Chong, Vice Mayor,
Qingdao Municipal People's Government. She then asked Mr. Yu to come on
stage to accept welcome letters addressed to him from Tom Althoff
President/CEO Lisle Area Chamber Of Commerce, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich,
Joseph J.Broda Mayor of Lisle, Jack Lavin Director Illinois Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Jerry R. Mitchell President/CEO Jerry R.
Mitchell and Associates Inc., Jerry R. Mitchell President The Midwest
Entrepreneurs Forum, Peggy Parfenoff Executive Director international
Visitors Center of Chicago Sidney Salvadori Director, Business
&International Affairs Chicago-Cook Business Center, Mike Skarr
President/CEO of the Naperville Chamber of Commerce, Hon.Adali E. Stevenson.
Vice Mayor Mr.Yu Chong then thanked everyone for coming to meet him and the
delegation from Qingdao and invited everyone to come and see for themselves
the beauty of his city both as a tourist as well as a business opportunity.
Mr. Sun, Heng Qin Vice Director-General, Qingdao Bureau of Foreign Trade
&Economic Cooperation presented Qingdao Business Opportunities. He had the
entire audience wanting to hear more about business opportunities. When he
explained about the annual beer fest and the amount of Tsingtao beer
consumed the audience broke out laughing. He invited everyone to come to
Qingdao for the 2008 Olympics to see the sailing events. There are 150
projects invested by 78 Fortune 500 companies in Qingdao.Qingdao is home to
one half of Chinas marine scientists. Ocean University of China (Helen
graduated from here) renowned for its marine sciences and fishery sciences,
is one of the key comprehensive universities under the direct jurisdiction
of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. It consists
of such branches of learning as science, engineering, agronomy (fishery),
economics, literature, medical science (pharmaceutics), philosophy and law.
Many of the audience were surprised by the number of foreign companies
already in Qingdao.
Randy Russell, Naperville Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the NACC
International Business Council welcomed Vice Mayor Yu to Naperville and
explained that many of their members are interested in China opportunities.
He explained his background in international business.
Tom Althoff, President /CEO, Lisle Area Chamber Of Commerce started off by
thanking the mayor and his delegation for staying at a lisle hotel. He
explained that Mayor Broda sent his regrets that he was unable to attend
because of previous commitments. Discussing the Lisle city and the
opportunities that Qingdao might find here was presented very well.
Sidney Salvadori, Dir. Business & International Affairs Chicago-Cook
Business Center Cook Country Dept. Planning & Development and President
International Trade Club of Chicago welcomed Mayor Yu and his delegation to
Chicago and explained what both of her organizations had to offer. She spoke
of her recent trade mission to China and her visit to Qingdao. She told of
the professional way the Illinois delegation was treated and showed pictures
of the trip which included a picture with Mayor Yu.
Peggy F. Parfenoff, Executive Director International Visitors Center of
Chicago started out by explaining what her organization does. Some of the
programs she mentioned were the International leadership program, where US
Department of State Foreign Services in US Embassies in 130 countries
provide a list of potential leaders from every profession to be trained. Her
organization is the forth largest group out of the 91 local service
providers. She also explained about trade missions and other services her
organization provides.
Mr.Kei Pang, Vice President - International Emerson Motors and Appliance
Components talked about his companies experience in building their company
in Qingdao. Emerson has been in China since the late 1970s. They have 28
manufacturing operations in 12 different locations. 7 of these are joint
ventures. The China market is their second largest market with the US being
number one. Emerson believes that production should be close to the market
you're trying to penetrate. They moved into their Qingdao facility in May
2002. He said that every official in Qingdao worked with them in a very
professional manner from the very beginning until today
Mr.Edward Chu, Senior Consultant, Lucent Technologies talked about his
career starting out in Bell Labs until his transfer to Lucent. He explained
how all Qingdao government officials worked with Lucent as partners and
treated Lucent with much respect.He told of the beauty of the city and its
people and encouraged others to join Lucent in Qingdao.
We hope all attendees enjoyed the event and will share their experience with
others.
President
Jerry R. Mitchell
----------------
A delegation from Qingdao City of the Shandong Province in Eastern China is
co hosting with Jerry R. Mitchell and Associates Inc. and The Midwest
Entrepreneurs Forum a meeting on September 12, 2006 aimed at further
strengthening business opportunities between the Midwest and Qingdao. The
meeting will be held at Northern Illinois University 1120 Diehl Road
Naperville. Continental breakfast and networking from 8-9 am Seminar from
9am-12 pm
There is no cost to attend. Reservations are required. Register by sending
an email to: qingdao -at- jerryrmitchellandassoc.com you need to include your
name, company and your title.
You will be sent a confirmation. Seating is limited so register early.
Members of the Delegation from Qingdao
People's Republic of China
1. Mr.YU Chong, Vice Mayor, Qingdao Municipal People's Government
2. Mr. ZHANG Xuming, Mayor Assistant (Vice Mayor), Qingdao Municipal
People's Government
3. Mr. SUN Hengqin, Deputy Director-General, Qingdao Bureau of Foreign Trade
and Economic Cooperation
4. Ms.WANG Kezhen, Director-General, Qingdao Bureau of Entry-Exit Inspection
and Quarantine
5. Mr. LI Guowen, Deputy Director, Qingdao Customs House, People's Republic
of China
6. Ms. ZHANG Li, Director Qingdao Overseas Investment Service Center
7. Mr. XUE Runbo, Male, Director, Qingdao Bureau of Foreign Trade and
Economic Cooperation
8. Ms. SUN Yan, Deputy Section Chief,Qingdao Bureau of Foreign Trade and
Economic Cooperation
9. Ms. XU Bin, Female, General Engineer, Qingdao Haier Technology Co.,Ltd.
10. Mr. QI Chengmin, Deputy Director Administrative Commission, Shandong
Pingdu Economic Development Zone
11. Ms. LIU Puyu, Translator Qingdao Overseas Investment Service Center