Sacramento – Assemblymember Philip Y. Ting (D – San Francisco) was tapped to Chair a new “Select Committee on Asia/California Trade and Investment Promotion” Wednesday by Assembly Speaker John Pérez.
“I am thrilled to lead this important effort for the state Assembly,” Ting said. “It is especially meaningful to me because it will allow me to continue to build on the China/SF work that I spearheaded as Assessor in San Francisco,” he added.
Ting said the work plan for the committee would include informational hearings in the Bay Area and other parts of the state to take input from the business community, local officials and other stakeholders on how to maximize potential investment by Asia in California’s attractive industry clusters. The Committee would also take an active role in directly facilitating relationships between California and entities interested in investing here.
Ting said as Chair of the new committee, he would use the model he helped establish in San Francisco to foster trade between China and San Francisco as the basis for expanding a similar effort to other parts of California. In 2007, Ting spearheaded the creation of “China-SF”, a public/private economic development initiative which he co-chairs today, located in and operated by the San Francisco Center for Economic Development in partnership with the SF Office of Economic and Workforce Development and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.
Operated under the Mayor of San Francisco’s office, China-SF includes the Assessor-Recorder and San Francisco-Shanghai Sister City Committee as strategic partners. China/SF’s goal is to increase business exchange between China and the SF Bay Area, focusing on San Francisco’s core industrial strengths: clean technology, biotech, digital media, information technology and financial, legal, engineering, design and other professional services. The program also focuses on Chinese consumer product companies that want to sell directly to North America.
China/SF serves as a one-stop business service center for inbound Chinese companies. With Mandarin-speaking staff, the office serves (1) as an information clearinghouse that provides resources and connects Chinese businesses to appropriate local services; (2) as a facilitator, advocate and case manager for Chinese businesses in navigating government; (3) a provider of real estate assistance; (4) connects Chinese businesses to applicable tax exemptions and workforce training and energy programs; (5) helps Chinese businesses find, train, and hire workers and relocate employees. The Shanghai and Beijing offices forward leads and opportunities to the China-SF offices. In particular, they help SF Bay area companies invest in China and connect Chinese businesses to the Bay Area market.
The Select Committee on Asia/California Trade and Investment Promotion will be in operation for the remainder of the 2-year legislative session – through calendar year 2014.
Contact: Colleen Beamish (916) 319-2019