Greater Seattle Partners at the China International Import Expo (CIIE)

Last year, Greater Seattle Partners attended the 2018 China International Import Expo (CIIE). Take a look back at last year’s visit to Shanghai as GSP prepares to embark on the Washington State Department of Trade and Washington China Relations Council Goodwill and Trade Mission to Shanghai and Hangzhou this November, 2019:

Greater Seattle Partners visited AIWAYS AUTO with Qi Yi Media

On November 5, 2018, Brian P. McGowan, CEO of Greater Seattle Partners, and Neepaporn Boungjaktha, Managing Director of Global Trade & Investment at Greater Seattle Partners, arrived in Shanghai and visited AIWAYS, a leading auto company in the new wave of China’s intelligent car-making industry. Qi Yi Media was invited and participated in the in-depth discussion of global strategy with Greater Seattle Partners and AIWAYS senior management representatives.  

At the meeting, senior managers from AIWAYS Investor Relations, Overseas Business Development, Sales, External and Administrative Affairs did a comprehensive introduction of AIWAYS’ globalization strategy and leading innovation capabilities, and learned from the GSP delegation led by Mr. Brian P. McGowan about economic development of the Greater Seattle area, connections with China, and possible future international cooperation. The Greater Seattle area of ​​Washington State is a top innovation hub second to Silicon Valley. It is also an incubation center of global new technology start-up companies. GSP is supported by well-known companies in this region such as Starbucks, Amazon, Boeing, Microsoft, and JP Morgan Chase, aiming to promote international business research, exchanges and collaboration.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Brian P. McGowan served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Metro Atlanta Chamber and helped to create more than 16,000 jobs with a total economic impact of $10 billion. He was appointed by President Obama in 2009 as Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief Operating Officer for the U.S. Economic Development Administration at Department of Commerce. He was detailed to the White House as an Economic Advisor to lead the Economic Solutions Group within the National Incident Command in response to the BP oil spill including providing assistance to affected communities along the Gulf Coast. In January 2008, McGowan was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to serve as California’s Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Commerce.

Recently, on October 21, 2018, German time, AIWAYS AUTO Nürburgring held an international press conference for the first time, officially announcing the execution of its overseas strategy. AIWAYS AUTO Co-founder and President FU Qiang, CPO and AIWAYS German subsidiary General Manager Roland Gumpert, CTO and Technology Center General Manager WANG Dongchen and Executive Vice President of Overseas Business Dr. Alexander Klose all attended the event.

AIWAYS AUTO co-founder and president FU Qiang said that AIWAYS’ mission is to become a champion of China’s quality manufacturing and go abroad. “AIWAYS believes that we can better develop if we have the courage to keep up with global competition. As the first model of AIWAYS automobile is close to mass production, we are also ready, to expand into the global market.”

This article is translated from a blog originally published here.

Delegation from Seattle, Washington visited RRYMT Organic Farm

On November 6, 2018, a delegation from Seattle, Washington, USA visited RRYMT Organic Farm and discussed extensively about mutual cooperation between the two sides.

Participants of the meeting included Kendee Yamaguchi, Executive Director at Snohomish County; Brian P. McGowan, CEO of Greater Seattle Partners; Neepaporn Boungjaktha, Managing Director of Global Trade & Investment at Greater Seattle Partners; YANG Shuo, General Manager of Beijing Inspiration; ZHANG Huan, Chairman of RRYMT Organic Farm; ZHANG Yimin, Director of Strategic Cooperation of RRYMT Organic Farm; and LIU Wei, Director of Big Data Information Technology of RRYMT Organic Farm.

From left to right (photo):

  • Neepaporn Boungjaktha, Managing Director of Global Trade & Investment at Greater Seattle Partners
  • Kendee Yamaguchi, Executive Director, Snohomish County
  • Brian P. McGowan, CEO of Greater Seattle Partners
  • ZHANG Huan, Chairman of RRYMT Organic Farm
  • ZHANG Yimin, Director of Strategic Cooperation of RRYMT Organic Farm
  • LIU Wei, Director of Big Data Information Technology of RRYMT Organic Farm
  • YANG Shuo, General Manager of Beijing Inspiration

At the meeting, ZHANG Huan, Chairman of RRYMT Organic Farm, expressed appreciation and welcomed the delegation. He briefly introduced the development and industrial advantages of the RRYMT Organic Farm, in particular, focusing on RRYMT’s “VIP customer private farm butler service, Smart Agricultural Monitoring Platform system and organic vegetable traceability system”, etc.

He said that in recent years, RRYMT Organic Farm are actively building organic farms in Sichuan, Yunnan, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hainan, Shandong and other places, to provide members with a wide range of special organic food. He mentioned that the U.S. has advanced organic agricultural technology and equipment, extensive experience and rapid development in this field. He hoped to learn about the U.S. experience through cooperation, import state-of-the-art equipment and technology, to make RRYMT Organic Farm more modern and international. In the meantime, he hoped to invest in organic agricultural farms in the U.S., so that Chinese members can enjoy U.S. organic food from RRYMT Organic Farm conveniently.

Brian P. McGowan, CEO of Greater Seattle Partners, did a presentation for RRYMT Organic Farm on recent development of organic agriculture in Snohomish County including the varieties and consumption characteristics of organic agricultural products. The two sides exchanged views on the differences between Chinese and American organic farming.

Brian P. McGowan was very interested in RRYMT’s private farm butler service, Smart Agricultural Monitoring Platform system and organic vegetable traceability system. He hoped that two sides can reach cooperation as soon as possible. This will be very helpful to the development of local organic agriculture and economy, also helpful to get authentic Chinese organic food to the U.S.

Kendee Yamaguchi mentioned that she will provide feasibility support and assistance down the road. Both sides agreed to continue learning and exchanging ideas about China-US organic farming and drawing on each other’s strengths to achieve common development. This is beneficial to adjust the local organic food consumption structure, improve the quality of food, raise the consumption level, and at the same time, helps to promote economic development.

Following Seattle delegation’s visit, the two sides hope to cooperate in the future, bring the advanced U.S. agricultural equipment and technology to China, and introduce RRYMT Organic Farm’s sophisticated planting system and service mindset to Seattle. Both sides look forward to achieving win-win outcomes through learning about each other’s advantages.

The article is translated from a blog originally published here.

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