Building on the agreement signed by Governor Brown in 2013 to expand bilateral trade and investment between California and China, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and the California Energy Commission convened the Joint Working Group in Beijing to discuss ways to strengthen economic opportunities for California clean tech companies and encourage Chinese foreign direct investment.
“California is a global leader in the development of clean technology thanks to ambitious economic and environmental goals,” said GO-Biz Director Panorea Avdis during a forum that included over a hundred Chinese businesses owners and investors. “Our goal for this trade mission is to strengthen our partnership with China and introduce California clean tech companies to new partners and markets.”
GO-Biz Director Panorea Avdis and California Energy Commission Chair Robert B. Weisenmiller are leading a delegation which includes representatives from GO-Biz and the California Energy Commission. In addition the delegation tapped representatives from the California Environmental Protection Agency, GO-Biz California-China Trade Network Partners: the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles World Trade Center, and the City of Sacramento, and the CA Secretariats for the Trade Investment MOU: the Bay Area Council and LARExC, as well as a dozen clean energy executives and California business representatives.
GO-Biz and the Energy Commission participated in a meeting between the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the China Chamber of Commerce (CCCME) featuring representatives from various provinces including Inner Mongolia, Chongqing, Shandong and Hebei.
“California is working towards decarbonizing our economy which requires strong investments from clean tech companies like the ones participating in our delegation,” said Energy Commission Chair Bob Weisenmiller. “California and China have signed agreements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions which we are strengthening here today.”
Director Avdis and Chair Weisenmiller met with top executives from tech giant LeEco and discussed the potential for LeEco to expand their presence in California. LeEco already has an office in Palo Alto and GO-Biz Director Avdis made a compelling case to expand that footprint. LeEco is rolling out a new electric vehicle next year and plans on selling the vehicle in California.
The trade mission is organized in partnership with the California-China Trade and Investment Office and the CalAsian Chamber and continues through November 5. The itinerary includes meetings and events with Chinese trade officials and businesses in Beijing, meetings with delegations from Hebei, Shandong, Chongqing, and Inner Mongolia Provinces, business to business events in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Zhenjiang, Shenzhen, and participation in the annual Environmental Protection Technology & Equipment Trade Show hosted by the Chinese Government.
Follow all the action from the 2016 California-China Trade Mission at @CAChinaTrade.
