Washington, D.C., November 21, 2016 - Today, EDC President and CEO Jim Coleman gave the keynote address to more than 30 high level Chinese business leaders during a seminar hosted by the Greater Washington China Investment Center in Washington, D.C. This invitation only event, requested by the China General Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the U.S. China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, centered on the risks and opportunities of investing in the United States. As Prince George's County is known throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area for its booming investment climate, Mr. Coleman highlighted the plethora of development projects that are sprouting up all over the County and how each member of the delegation can become a part of this exciting time in Maryland's history.
"Prince George's County is serious about doing business," said Coleman. "Our County Executive, Rushern L. Baker, III, is completely committed to building strong relationships with China as well as several other targeted, high growth countries. With our rapidly growing economy and more than $10 billion in the pipeline for new construction over the next 18 months, it is important for us to build bridges with our international neighbors that can help transform investment and trade in Prince George's County; making it the true Gateway to the U.S. Market."
Mr. Coleman shared County Executive Baker's International Business plan, which the EDC is executing through targeted business mission trips, advertising its County-wide foreign trade zone designation, and cultivating relationships with targeted countries through mutual briefings with foreign embassies. Coleman also announced that County Executive Baker will be leading a business mission to Korea and China in April 2017. Several of the delegation members expressed interest in meeting with the mission delegates upon their arrival in China.
The Greater Washington China Investment Center (GWCIC) President Bill Black, an expert on Chinese foreign direct investment has partnered with the EDC on several occasions to match make Chinese investors with projects in Prince George's County. GWCIC is a public-private partnership designed to help small to mid-sized Chinese companies seeking to go global with a guided entrance to the U.S. market.
"Today was an extraordinary event, having Chinese business leaders here and seeing the best of Washington," said Black. "This was a very unique experience. Having Jim Coleman's presentation really demonstrated the special characteristics of Prince George's County that make it such an attractive place to do business."
For more information on international business development or the China Business Center, contact Pradeep Ganguly (pganguly@co.pg.md.us) or 301-583-4650 or go to our website www.pgcedc.com.
Prince George's County Building A Dynasty With China