China Trade Mission
Beijing • Shijiazhuang • Shanghai • Hong Kong
May 16 - 25, 2008
Governor Chet Culver will lead a trade mission to China, May 16 - 25, 2008. The cities to be visited by Governor Culver are Beijing, Shijiazhuang and Shanghai. While in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, we will celebrate our 25th Sister State anniversary with Hebei province. A Cultural Day will in Hong Kong will be organized at the end of the trip for interested participants.
- Iowa's exports to China grew 21st largest export market in 1996 to 5th largest export market in 2007.
- Since China became a member of the WTO in 2001, exports have steadily increased (see chart).
(Source: GTIS)
Why China?
(sources: United States Department of Commerce, PNC Bank)
- Second largest internet market in the world
- Second largest consumer of oil after the U.S.
- China consumes 40% of the world's cement, 41% of the iron ore and 35% of the coal
- Second largest market for vehicles after the U.S. with sales of 7.22 million units in 2006
- China's GDP growth continues at over 10% and will likely continue at that level for some years to come
- China has changed from Communism to "Market Driven" (NOT Capitalism) to modernize and integrate their economy
- China's rural population is moving to urban areas increasing consumption(in 2007 about 15, 000,000 moved form rural areas to the cities causing major social changes/issues/consumption and stress on infrastructure)
- Fastest growing export market for the U.S.
- China has foreign exchange reserves of more that $1 trillion U.S. (bigger than all countries combined) and needs to spend it!
- Those born in China after 1978 have experienced nothing but upward mobility
- Secondary Markets - China has more than 260 cities with populations over one million resulting in major infrastructure projects and increased food production needs.
- In China if you are one in a million, there are 1300 people just like you [in India there are 1100 and in Iowa there are 3]
- Half of U.S. exports to China go to second tier cities
- China has about 20% of the world's population but only 5% of the world's arable land. [The U.S. has 5% of the world's population and about 13% of the world's arable land] China will need to import food and food-inputs.
Additional market background information is available at:
U.S. Country Commercial Guide for China [www.buyusainfo.net/docs/x_98756.pdf] (This is a large file to download and will take a few minutes)
U.S. Department of Commerce Market Research Library [www.buyusainfo.net/adsearch.cfm?search_type=int&loadnav=no]
The Economist - Country Briefings China [www.economist.com/countries/China/index.cfm]
U.S. Commercial Service in China [www.buyusa.gov/china/en/]
Tips on Doing Business In China [www.buyusa.gov/china/en/chinabiztips.html]
U.S. State Department Travel and Business [www.state.gov/travelandbusiness/]
CIA-World Fact Book [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html]
Lonely Planet - China [www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/china/]
Sectors: All industry sectors are invited to participate in this mission.
Itinerary:The following is the preliminary itinerary and it will continue to develop as the mission dates approach. Your individual business itinerary will be developed to assist you in successfully accomplishing your mission goals. Please check this site regularly for itinerary/calendar updates.
Download the preliminary Itinerary [MS Word: 42k]
Flight Arrangements
Shorts Travel is the state travel agency for the trade mission (Diana, 800-274-6787 x 0849), although you may use the travel agent of your choice. We will provide suggested flights and will have group ground transportation coordinated to meet these specific flights. Participants do travel as a group on any in country flights during the mission. If you fly on an itinerary other than the mission itinerary, we may not be able to arrange your airport transportation.
You will be responsible for the booking and payment of your airline reservations.
Please contact Kathy Hill before you make your final reservations.
Quoted airfare rates [PDF: 28k]
Hotel Accommodations
IDED and Phoenix Consulting LLC will make your hotel reservations. Hotel room costs are based on standard rooms, single occupancy. Rates are being negotiated on the behalf of the group. We request all mission participants be housed at the same location. If you choose not to stay at the "mission hotel," you will be responsible for your own transportation to and from group transportation points. A credit card number will be necessary to guarantee your reservation. You will settle your account directly with the hotel at the time of checkout in each city.
Hotel Accommodations [PDF: 37k]
Visa Requirements
A valid passport and business or tourist visas are required for U.S. citizens traveling to China. The attached link will provide the information you will need to apply for your visa. Your letter of invitation will be provided by our contractor, Phoenix Consulting LLC, once you have committed to participating on the mission.
If you would prefer to use a visa service, please contact your travel agent or review the links below. Other entry requirements may apply for citizens of countries other than the United States. http://www.chinaconsulatechicago.org/eng/
Visa Service Companies
Perry International [www.perryvisa.com/]
American Passport [www.americanpassport.com/]
Passport and visas.com [www.passportsandvisas.com/]
General Travel Information
The following web sites provide links to international travel and health information.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html
wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationChina.aspx
Travel Insurance and Travel Health Insurance
If you are interested in purchasing international travel & health insurance for this trip, there are a variety of companies offering this service. The following is a sample of links that may help you in picking an insurance company to fit your needs.
www.hthtravelinsurance.com/
www.travelinsured.com/
www.worldwidemedical.com/
www.insuremytrip.com/index-1000-0-13049-0.html
Cultural Day Events
Sunday, May 18th will be a Cultural Day in Beijing and Saturday, May 24th will be a Cultural Day in Hong Kong. Tours will be organized for the delegation and a fee will be determined to cover your participation. Cultural Day events are not included in the basic mission fee and are not reimbursable under the ETAP program. Once the fee has been established all interested participants will be contacted.
Cultural Day Events [PDF: 101k]
Mission Briefing
IDED will hold a pre-mission briefing to acquaint the participants with the overall itinerary, travel requirements, travel/lodging arrangements, country background, each other, etc. A thorough commercial and economic orientation is provided during the mission.
If you would like one-on-one pre qualified business appointments scheduled on behalf of your company, please contact Kathy Hill at 515.242.4741, or kathy.hill@iowalifechanging.com. Appointment schedules will be limited to the first 10 companies/organizations that have a deposit on file. Appointment schedule requests will be accepted until April 1, 2008. Later requests will be accepted based upon availability.
If you will be arranging your own business appointments, please be sure to let us know your itinerary details so that we can coordinate group events to include your company.
Export Trade Assistance Program (ETAP Funding)
ETAP funds may be available on a first-come, fist-served basis to qualified business applicants for the trade mission. ETAP will reimburse 75% of an eligible company's direct expenses up to $3,000 per pre-approved trade mission.
[Note: ETAP reimbursement is only available to eligible companies who will also be conducting business meetings either organized by IDED or on your own during the mission dates. If your company is organizing your own business meetings, you must supply IDED a copy of your meeting itinerary to be eligible for ETAP.] Company eligibility requirements and eligible expenses for reimbursement are detailed at www.iowalifechanging.com/business/export_trade.html.
Estimated Mission Expenses
The estimated costs of participating in Governor Culver's Asia Trade Mission are outlined below. Fees are charged per company or organization.
Basic mission fee $1,000.00
The basic mission fee includes group ground transportation, group breakfasts and dinners, business receptions, pre and post mission assistance, on-site support while in China during the mission dates, business briefing (as needed), promotional support and complete mission planning.
Note: An additional fee of $1000.00 per participant will be charged if a company or organization has more that two participants.
Basic mission fee plus business appointment schedules $2,500.00
All services provided in the basic mission fee plus Individualized business appointment schedules in China are included in this fee and are available to the first 10 companies who have registered and have submitted a deposit. IDED, our contractor in China Phoenix Consulting LLC, and the U.S. Department of Commerce will coordinate to conduct market research on your behalf in order to arrange business meetings appropriate for each participating company's needs. The meetings will be held at the local company's facility whenever possible. If you would like business meetings arranged on your behalf, please fill out the company form and send electronically to kathy.hill@iowalifechanging.com along with your $2,500 participation fee.
Personal transportation costs are not included in this price.
Expenses: Download a basic outline of mission expenses along with an estimate of possible reimbursement under the Export Trade Assistance Program (ETAP) below. ETAP funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis to qualified applicants for the trade mission. ETAP will reimburse 75% of an eligible company's direct expenses up to $3,000 per pre-approved trade mission. Company eligibility requirements and eligible expenses for reimbursement are detailed at www.iowalifechanging.com/business/export_trade.html.
Estimated expenses for Iowa participants:
If you would like Governor Culver to participate at a specific business meeting, please notify kathy.hill@iowalifechanging.com so the meeting can be incorporated into his itinerary.
The deadline for trade mission application is April 1, 2008, although the sooner applications are received, the sooner the necessary research can begin. Applications should be detailed and specific.
- Mission Application — Business meetings [MS Word: 1155k] [PDF: 79k]
- Participation Fee of $2500 per company/organization
- Checks payable to IDED Foundation. Invoice available upon request.
- Mission Application — No Business meetings [MS Word: 225k] [PDF: 90k]
- Participation Fee of $1000 per company/organization
- Checks payable to IDED Foundation. Invoice available upon request.
- Mission Participation Form [MS Word: 1097k] [PDF: 17k]
- EACH participant must fill out this document
- ETAP Application Form, if eligible [MS Word: 61k] [PDF: .98MB]
- Brief (2-3 paragraph) company/product description for promotional purposes
- 20 sets of marketing materials
Submit application materials via e-mail and/or mail to:
Kathy Hill
Iowa Department of Economic Development
200 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
Contact Kathy Hill at 515.242.4741 or kathy.hill@iowalifechanging.com for additional information.
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