L.A. County officials on China trade mission

L.A. County officials on China trade mission Los Angeles County officials are in China this week seeking to strengthen economic ties between businesses in the county and the Asian giant.
   Headed by County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, the trade mission hopes to spark further economic investment in Los Angeles County. Sponsored in part by the World Trade Center Association Los Angeles-Long Beach and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., the Sept. 21-30 trade mission will meet with Chinese firms in Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, and Dalian.
   'This is an unprecedented opportunity to promote business investment from China to Los Angeles County,' said Vance Baugham, president of the WTC Association Los Angeles-Long Beach. 'This mission is designed to harness a key portion of the extraordinary growth that is happening in China now.'
   Members of the mission will participate in the World Economic Forum’s New Champions meeting in Tianjin, several “invest in Los Angeles County” conferences and meetings with Chinese firms in the motor vehicles, electronics, utilities, metals and transportation sectors.
   The trade delegation also plans to meet with companies interested in a logistics hub, research and development or design center, and headquarters or representative offices for marketing in Los Angeles County.
   'Los Angeles County is home to more than 4,500 foreign-owned businesses,' said Bill Allen, president and chief executive of LAEDC, a private non-profit designed to mission is to attract, retain, and grow business and jobs for the regions of Los Angeles County. 'Foreign direct investment creates jobs for more than 359,000 workers in L.A. County, which represents nearly 10 percent of all private-sector workers in the County. Our mission is designed to attract more investment to create more such jobs in our region.'