Since 1980s, companies took advantages of China’s low cost labor, land and materials to compete in the market. However, today labor and land cost is no longer competitive in China, and Chinese companies are looking for new ways to improve efficiency and stay competitive. In the meantime, many US companies have developed advanced solutions and have been leading the industry with continuous R&D. Experts like Michael Rawding are serving as the bridge to help the needs find solutions. Rawding, a former executive from Microsoft who served as the President of Microsoft Greater China, Japan and Asia, now advises US companies on both entering and optimizing their operations in Asia and supports Chinese and Japanese organizations in finding US technology partnerships and enhancing their US market knowledge and execution capability. He will share with us what opportunities he has seen for advanced enterprise solutions in China.

www.voiceamerica.com/episode/108014/opportunities-for-advanced-enterprise-solutions-in-china

About the Guest:

Michael Rawding currently advises US companies on both entering and optimizing their operations in Asia, with an emphasis on China and Japan. He also supports Chinese and Japanese organizations in finding US technology partnerships and enhancing their US market knowledge and execution capability. He has an extensive background in the Asia region, having served as the President of Microsoft Greater China, Microsoft Japan, and Microsoft Asia. Having also led several worldwide business units while at Microsoft, he understands both the local and global perspective. In addition, he has worked on a variety of cross border leadership assignments for US companies in Japan and China and Asian companies in the US during his tenure at Spencer Stuart. Rawding was previously Chairman of the Washington State China Relations Council, served on the Board of Governors at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, and is a member of the National Committee on US China Relations.

“Made in China” is almost everywhere in our life, no matter which country you are living. Today we will talk about the apparel industry and the trade with China, with Mr. Benjamin Lee. For four generations, Mr. Lee’s family has been in the textile industry and later the apparel industry. They started from Shanghai then Hong Kong and expanded to many Asian countries. From 1970s, Benjamin came to the US and continued the family business with import and export in textile and clothing. What has changed in the apparel industry over these many decades? What is the competitive advantages of China today? Is China still going to play a big role as the cost is constantly increasing in China recent years? What should you know when you are considering getting in the apparel industry with China? Please listen to Michelle Zou’s interview with Benjamin Lee about trade with China in the apparel industry. www.voiceamerica.com/episode/107889/trade-with-china-in-the-apparel-industry

About the Guest

Benjamin Lee is Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Washington (HKAW) and Chairman of the National US Hong Kong Business Association (NUSHKBA) in 2009. A well-known figure within the Seattle community, he is willing to step up to help and donate to the community at any opportunity he gets. Benjamin has been an influential figure of HKAW’s recent growth by working closely with the National USHKBA and Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide. He brings in numerous business connections, and leading the way on building relationships with organizations such as Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO). On the business side, Benjamin is also an international business leader. He is an owner of an import/export company Foreign Sources Ltd. He is well connected in the business world, especially in Asia, from Hong Kong, Shanghai, to Taiwan.

June 13, 2018
 
Washington State Commerce Department and the Washington State China Relations Council jointly held a press conference to announce Washington small and midsized businesses (SMBs) to exhibit at the first-ever China International Import Expo (CIIE).
 
SEATTLE – June 13, 2018 - Washington State Commerce Department (“Commerce”) and the Washington State China Relations Council (“WSCRC”) announced on Wednesday that about 20 small and medium businesses from Washington State will exhibit at the first China International Import Expo (“CIIE”) in Shanghai, November 5-10.  With the support of WSCRC and its member company Pacific Technologies Consulting Group (“PTCG”), Commerce has marketed CIIE, organized a delegation to attend, and offered the Export Voucher which assists small business owners by offsetting the cost of attending CIIE. This is the first time that Washington State has organized SMBs to attend an Expo event in China. 
 
CIIE is slated to be the largest import trade show in China.  CIIE announced that as of June 1, 2018, over 1,300 companies from more than 120 countries and regions had already registered to attend CIIE. It is estimated that up to 150,000 professional buyers from both China and abroad will participate in the Expo.
 
The CIIE was announced by China’s President Xi Jinping in 2017 and is hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and Shanghai Municipal People's Government. CIIE is additionally receiving support from the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. The Expo affirms China’s resolve to display its commitment to inclusive globalization as well as its eagerness to further open its market to foreign traders.
 
The Washington State Commerce Department has chosen to leverage the opportunity for global exposure afforded by attendance to the CIIE. Washington businesses will exhibit together under the Commerce Department’s “Choose Washington” in order to attract increased attention, traffic and awareness of the many exports the region has to offer. Together with WSCRC, and with the support of PTCG and multiple local Chinese American organizations, Commerce has led the effort to communicate the strategic potential that attendance to CIIE offers to businesses.  In order to simplify registration for attendance to CIIE, Commerce has facilitated a sign-up process exclusively for WA businesses who plan to attend as part of the delegation.
 
The June 13 press conference was held at the Nan Hai USA office in Kirkland.  Seattle local media, CIIE event service representatives from Shanghai and WA exhibitors attended the event.  Victor Chan, WSCRC Board Director, welcomed attendees and shared a brief history of Washington’s connection to China and how WSCRC has served as a bridge between Washington state and China since 1979.  Commerce Assistant Director Chris Green emphasized that Washington ranks as one of the nation’s most trade-dependent states, with China is as a major market for Washington exports. Green believes that CIIE will be a great opportunity for Washington companies to make business deals and sign contracts.  Green further explained Commerce’s CIIE exhibition plans and the process of offsetting attendance costs through the Export Voucher program. 
 
Andy Cheung, CEO of Donghao International (“DHI”), co-organizer for CIIE’s High-end Intelligent Equipment Show, represented CIIE at the press conference. Cheung explained the significance of CIIE, the process of attending CIIE, and tips for a successful exhibit.  Michelle Zou, WSCRC Board Director and CEO of PTCG, facilitated the press conference with over 50 attendees.
 
About WA Department of Commerce
The Department of Commerce is the one agency in state government that touches every aspect of community and economic development: planning, infrastructure, energy, public facilities, housing, public safety and crime victims, international trade, business services and more.
 
About Washington State China Relations Council (WSCRC)
Founded in 1979, Washington State China Relations Council is the nation’s leading statewide organization dedicated to promoting stronger commercial, educational and cultural engagement with China. http://wscrc.org/
 
About Pacific Technologies Consulting Group (PTCG)
PTCG is a strategic consulting firm that helps companies seize US-China opportunities and grow business in today's rapidly evolving business environment. It specializes in helping American companies enter into the China market and vice versa. http://www.ptcgconsulting.com/

Just like an individual person, every company or brand also has certain image in public’s eyes, no matter if it is the kind of image you prefer or not. Your company or brand may have already established an image locally, and when you are penetrating the business to the China market, what messages do you want to deliver to the audience there? And what kind of perceptions do you want to establish there? You need to understand the difference between your home market and the China market, clearly craft your key messages, and utilize marketing, public relations, government relations and many other means to help build a positive image for your company or brand in the China market. In this episode, Sheila Shang, PR and marketing expert with a special focus on the US-China cross-border business communications, will share her thoughts and tips to you.

https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/107568/how-to-build-a-positive-image-for-your-brand-in-china​

About the Guest 

Sheila Shang is currently in charge of PR & Marketing for Sinovation Ventures in North America. Prior to this, Sheila worked for Microsoft for over 17 years and held various senior public relations and marketing roles in China, Asia Pacific region and the United States. She is instrumental in building the brand of Microsoft Research in China and APEC. She has rich experience in public relations, executive communications, image and brand visibility campaigns, government engagement initiatives and programs, and her unique bilingual bi-cultural background has established her as an expert in the US-China cross border businesses and initiatives.