Rep. Shawn Lindsay will visit Oregon’s sister state of Fujian to promote economic partnerships

The Forest Grove News-Times
Aug 31, 2011

In early September, some Oregon lawmakers and other state officials will visit Oregon’s sister state, Fujian, in the People’s Republic of China to promote a better economic relationship between the two states.

Rep. Shawn Lindsay, a Hillsboro Republican, will be part of the 37-member delegation organized by the Oregon Fujian Sister State Association.

As part of the trip, Lindsay and others will promote Oregon’s nursery industry, which is a key economy in western Washington County.

Lindsay will be joined by Co-House Speaker Bruce Hanna and Co-House Speaker Arnie Roblan, 15 other members of the Legislature and a variety of leaders from Oregon’s business community along with the Governor’s China Delegation.

The aim of the 15-day trip beginning Sept. 4 is to expand and build on the burgeoning economic relationship between the states and to promote Oregon services and products to consumers in China.

While in Fujian, the delegation will attend a three-day conference, the Chinese International Fair for Investment and Trade.

Tens of thousands of Chinese investors and leaders of the business and government communities will be invited to participate in a special “Oregon Day at CIFIT” to ostensibly learn why Oregon is an ideal economic environment for Chinese investment in America.

This will be the Oregon Legislature’s eighth trade mission to China since 2002. During those years, Oregon’s exports to China have more than quadrupled and China has become Oregon’s number one export destination at more than $4 billion annually.

“Promoting the theme of ‘Made in Oregon for American Consumers’ is an important strategy for attracting Chinese companies to open manufacturing facilities in Oregon for the North American marketplace,” according to Lindsay’s press release. “Bringing manufacturing plants to Oregon creates jobs for Oregon workers.”

In addition, there will be four seminars geared for Chinese audiences during CIFIT’s “Oregon Day,” highlighting tourism, investment, education and “Made In Oregon” products.

The delegation will meet with a variety of other Fujian industry leaders to help attain the state’s economic expansion goals.

Destinations will include Yichang, where delegation members will visit Oregon’s nursery project and promote Oregon’s nursery products and sustainable development expertise in water conservation and forestry.

“The relationship we have invested with Fujian has already showed major signs of fruition,” Lindsay said in the press release. “In fact, notwithstanding our relatively small economy, out of the fifty states, Oregon is the fourth largest exporter of goods and services to China.”