REGIONAL> Development
AmCham South China to seek opportunities in Fujian
(China Daily Fujian Bureau)
Updated: 2009-06-23 10:11

GUANGZHOU - 68 senior executives from member companies of the American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham South China) will depart Guangzhou for Fuzhou on June 24 for a three-day investment mission to meet with top-level provincial leaders, learn about the latest developments in the investment environment and scout for new opportunities in the recently-established‘West Strait Economic Zone’and elsewhere. U.S. Consul General Robert Goldberg and senior officers from the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou will be traveling with the delegation.

A study of AmCham South China's membership published earlier this year reported that 72.5% of its 1,650 members are primarily engaged in producing goods and services for the domestic Chinese market, and that they have budgeted a minimum of US$6.48 billion for reinvestment in 2009 alone. Historically, actualized investment spending has surpassed original budgeted amounts, which is expected to be the case this year as well.

The delegation will also be joining U.S. government officials and Fujian provincial and municipal government leaders at the U.S. Consulate General's early celebration of the U.S. Independence Day, July 4, in Xiamen on June 25—the first such official event to be held in Fujian since the normalization of diplomatic relations 30 years ago.

"There are about 70 companies coming with us who represent many millions of dollars in investment budgets for 2009 alone, and every one of them is interested in looking at the opportunities offered by Fujian and the Zone," said AmCham South China president Harley Seyedin, describing the business community's wide-spread commitment to expansion of operations in China despite the economic slowdown.

The delegation is a precursor to AmCham South China's annual delegation to CIFIT every September, which last year attracted more than 150 companies and in prior years has been recognized for contributions to CIFIT by fair organizers and former vice premier Wu Yi herself.

About The American Chamber of Commerce in South China

The American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham South China) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating bilateral trade between the United States and the People's Republic of China. Certified in 1995 by its parent organization, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., AmCham South China represents more than 1,650 corporate and individual members, is governed by a fully-independent Board of Governors elected from its membership, and provides dynamic, on-the-ground support for American and International companies doing business in South China. In 2008, AmCham South China hosted nearly 10,000 business executives, government leaders and journalists from around the world at its many events.