Southeast Michigan Businesses Invited to Participate
TROY, Mich., Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Automation Alley, a technology
business association driving growth in Southeast Michigan's economy, announced
today it is accepting applications from companies to participate in its
upcoming trade mission to China and Vietnam. The trade mission, scheduled for
April 18-26, 2008, will visit Auto China 2008 in Beijing, China, and Hanoi and
Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
China has a market of 1.3 million consumers, including an emerging middle
class of 300 million, who are fueling demand for American-made products,
services and technologies. Vietnam is Asia's second fastest-growing economy,
just behind China, with a projected rate of gross domestic product growth
reaching nine percent in 2008. "Automation Alley is dedicated to helping
Southeast Michigan companies grow by helping develop international trade
relationships," said Noel Nevshehir, director of international business
services. "China and Vietnam are not just about low-cost manufacturing. Both
countries have sophisticated, technologically adept and highly-skilled
workforces that are creating innovative products for the global market."
Industries to be targeted on the trade mission include: advanced energy
and power generation; engineering and design services; environmental and
pollution control technologies; machine tools and industrial machinery;
medical devices and equipment; and information technology software
applications.
A growing wave of high-tech investors, including Cicso Systems, Dell,
Intel, Hewlett-Packard, and Microsoft, are investing in Vietnam and are laying
the foundation for the country to become Asia's new hotspot for electronics
manufacturing, information technology, and software development. In China,
automotive enterprises are looking to expand in Southeast Michigan to
benefit from the region's research and development expertise, managerial know-
how, global brands and distribution networks.
Southeast Michigan companies interested in attending the trade mission
must be export-ready and conduct business in one of the industries previously
noted. All Automation Alley trade missions include the U.S. Department of
Commerce's Gold Key Service, which provides pre-screened, pre-qualified
meetings based on a company's goals and objectives.
Automation Alley and U.S. Department of Commerce staff works closely to
provide assistance to trade mission participants before, during and after the
mission. The cost to attend is $7,995 per person and includes airfare, hotel,
ground transportation, matchmaking meetings and other travel-related expenses.
Past Automation Alley trade missions to China, India, and Mexico have
garnered more than $120 million in contracts for the region. In 2006, Wayne
County Airport Authority's participation in the trade mission to China
contributed in part to the success of China Southern Airlines offering daily,
non-stop service between Detroit and Beijing in 2009. The regional economic
impact is expected to be $95.6 million annually.
For more information on the trade mission or to apply, please contact the
Automation Alley Resource Center at 1-800-427-5100 or
info@automationalley.com.
The trade mission to China and Vietnam is sponsored by Miller, Canfield,
Paddock, and Stone; the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce;
GlobalAutoIndustry.com; Regus; and the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S.
Commercial Services.
About Automation Alley
Automation Alley is a technology business association driving the growth
and image of Southeast Michigan's economy through a collaborative culture that
focuses on workforce and business development initiatives.
Since its founding in 1999, Automation Alley has expanded to include more
than 800 businesses, educational institutions and government entities,
covering an eight county area and the City of Detroit. Automation Alley
promotes regional prosperity through business attraction services, exporting
assistance, workforce development and technology acceleration.
SOURCE Automation Alley
Michelle Zellen of Automation Alley, +1-248-457-3200,
zellenm@automationalley.com
