Selections
Trade Mission to China
Delegation Finds Opportunity Abroad
Posted Thursday, November 8, 2007 ; 06:00 AM
We truly have a world economy, and that's not going to change. It's now our
responsibility to deal with competition on a global scale.
Led by Gov. Joe Manchin, a group of West Virginians has visited China to explore
business opportunities there. They are focusing on the energy sector -- a topic
that West Virginia businesses know very well.
While doing business abroad is not a new trend for a number of West Virginia
companies, we are encouraged to see this trend accelerate, especially in a
climate where so many are quick blame West Virginia's economic woes on the
emergence of a global economy.
Let's face facts: While much of our manufacturing base has migrated overseas to
low-cost producers, we have seen major investment from foreign manufacturers who
now employ hundreds of West Virginians.
We truly have a world economy, and that's not going to change. It's now our
responsibility to deal with competition on a global scale.
As the delegation of state officials and business leaders learned during its
recent trip to China, the world -- in an economic sense -- is flat, and we have
opportunities abroad.
Rather than back down from the challenge, West Virginia businesses can follow
the lead of Phillips Machine Service of Beckley, Kanawha Scales of Poca and
other entrepreneurial West Virginia companies that see opportunities in far-away
places.
That's the future and the hope for West Virginia.
