Tacoma to Launch Pilot Project with China

Monday, April 14, 2008

The City of Tacoma and the Port of Tacoma recently announced the launch of the Fuzhou Pilot Project. The 18-month project, jointly funded by the City and Port aims to expand trade, primarily exports to China and to attract foreign direct investment to the Tacoma-Pierce County region. Fuzhou, a Chinese port city with a population of more than 6 million, is the capital city of Fujian Province. Tacoma, the largest city in South Puget Sound in Washington state, features one of North American’s largest container ports. Fuzhou and Tacoma have been Sister Cities since October 1994. "Our two regions have shared numerous exchanges to expand and strengthen trade and cultural ties," said Port of Tacoma Commissioner Connie Bacon. "China is now Tacoma's largest trading partner by both volume and by dollar value, and Fuzhou is a key gateway to this market. As we continue to strengthen our relationship, both the people of Fuzhou and Tacoma will benefit for generations to come." Bacon emphasized that the Pilot Project is the result of the long-term vision of Yuan Rongxiang, Chief Executive of Fuzhou Municipality and Chairman of the Fuzhou people's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Li Hong, Director General of the Fuzhou Foreign Affairs Office and former City of Tacoma Councilmember Bill Evans. "We have benefitted from extraordinary leadership on both sides of the Pacific," she said. A Steering Committee made up of Port of Tacoma and City of Tacoma representatives selected Tim Wen as the project's Contract Trade Representative based in Fuzhou and Michael Fowler as the Contract Project Consultant based in Tacoma. The City and Port will also host Fuzhou Trade Representative Guanghui "Arthur" Liu of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Fuzhou Municipal People's Government.

On Friday, April 18, 2008 the Fuzhou Pilot Project will officially be launched at a breakfast event that is open to the public. The event will feature Yuan Rongxiang, Chief Executive of Fuzhou Municipality and Chairman of the Fuzhou People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and top City, Port and other local government officials. The event is jointly sponsored by the City and Port of Tacoma with the support of the World Trade Center-Tacoma.
Fuzhou Pilot Project Launch
9 a.m., Friday, April 18, 2008
Tacoma Club
1201 Pacific Avenue #1601
(Cost is $15 per person and includes continental breakfast. For reservations or more information, contact Mariam Anderson at 253-396-1022, manderson@wtcta.org)