Manchin plans to take tour of China
Governor will make stop at Coal & Mining Expo
Byline: George Hohmann, Daily Mail Business Editor
Gov. Joe Manchin will lead a state trade mission to China this fall, spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg said today.
The trip will be from Oct. 30 to Nov. 6, Ramsburg said.
Manchin will visit Shanghai; Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province, which is China's major coal-producing region; and Beijing, in that order, said Steve Spence, executive director of the development office.
Manchin hopes to visit a major coal-to-liquids plant near Shanghai. Also, "we're working with the West Virginia University Center for Chinese Business, which brings business and government leaders to West Virginia for training," Spence said. "A large group of alumni of that program are in the Shanghai area. We'll be meeting with them and coordinating that with WVU."
The governor will participate in the opening ceremonies at the China Coal & Mining Exhibition on Nov. 6 in Beijing, Spence said.
"China is a dynamic, growing market for West Virginia products - particularly the coal mining sector but other sectors as well," Spence said. "He will be there to enhance what West Virginia companies are doing there and to identify other opportunities for West Virginia companies."
Spence said that at least 10 West Virginia companies will participate in the coal show and representatives of some of those companies will travel with Manchin during the early part of his trip.
"I think they're excited to be able to go with the governor to meet some of their customers and potential customers in Shanxi Province and possibly Shanghai, and to be with the governor to meet key government officials," Spence said. "He will be there to help them generate additional business."
The China Coal & Mining Exhibition will be held from Nov. 6-9 in Beijing. The exhibition has been held every other year since 1985. According to the show's Web site, the event drew 300 exhibitors from 17 countries and 20,000 visitors in 2005.
Kanawha Scales and Systems of Poca has been a show participant since 1995 and the West Virginia Development Office has participated in the exhibition since 1999. Spence said Kanawha Scales is among the West Virginia companies that will have booths at this year's event.
China relies heavily on coal for the production of electricity. Power consumption in China from January to July was up 15.68 percent over last year, according to a report issued this week by the China Electricity Council.
China, the world's most populous nation, is the world's largest coal producer and consumer.
Foreign trade is important to West Virginia's economy. Companies here export products to more than 70 countries. State exports totaled $3.1 billion in 2005 and accounted for 12,000 jobs.
West Virginia companies' exports to China jumped 36 percent from 2005 to 2006, according to a study issued earlier this month by the U.S.-China Business Council.
Chemicals accounted for $111 million of the $187 million worth of West Virginia's exports to China last year, the council said. Wood products accounted for $26 million worth of exports, followed by $11 million worth of transportation equipment, $8 million worth of primary metal manufacturing and $5 million in mineral manufacturing.
Spence said that Manchin's preliminary itinerary also calls for a Nov. 4 visit to the Great Wall and Nov. 5 meetings with key government and business leaders in Beijing.
A list of trade mission participants is still being compiled, Spence said.
Manchin has gone on a trade mission each year he has been governor. In May 2005 he and Sen. Jay Rockefeller went to Japan. Last April, Manchin visited Germany and Italy.
Contact writer George Hohmann at business@dailymail.com or 304-348-4836.