Fastest Growing County in The United States to Visit China

Fastest Growing County in The United States to Visit China

October 09, 2007

U.S. Trade Delegation from San Bernardino County,
California Will Meet with Shanghai Businesses and Trade
Officials to Advance Commercial Relations.

    SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif., Oct. 9
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- On October 12 and 13, a trade
delegation from San Bernardino County, California, the
largest County in the United States, will have a series of
meetings with several Shanghai businesses for the purpose
of promoting commercial relations with a wide variety of
industries.

    Delegates from the County of San Bernardino are looking
to develop trade partnerships with Chinese entrepreneurs,
governments, and multi-national corporations.  The County
of San Bernardino will be establishing a representative
office in Hong Kong, and the business trip will include a
review of applications for a China overseas
representative.

    The County of San Bernardino held its first business
mission to China last year. The eight-day trip included
more than 130 meetings and yielded an estimated $65 million
in business and growing business partnerships.

    "Our goal is to help companies in San Bernardino
County engage the global marketplace in search of new
opportunities to grow and thrive," said Paul Biane,
Chairman of the County of San Bernardino Board of
Supervisors. "China is both the fastest growing
economy and the fastest developing consumer market. China
is also our largest trading partner. This is an important
opportunity for local businesses."

    This year's delegation is on a nine-day commercial
mission dedicated to advancing trade relations with
Shanghai and China, and it will also be meeting with
potential trade partners in Suzhou and Hong Kong.

    Led by three top officials, including its chairman and
vice chairman, the County of San Bernardino will meet with
the Shanghai Foreign Economic Development Center and
Shanghai Waigaoquiao Modern Service Trade Development
Company in search of new business partnerships. 

    At more than 20,000 square miles, the County of San
Bernardino is the largest county in the contiguous U.S. Its
resources, logistics, distribution capabilities and growing
business base have catapulted it to prominence in among the
nation's fastest growing economies.  The County has emerged
as an air and trucking hub for integrated logistics, and
company giants such as UPS are scheduling direct flights to
China daily.  

    About the Economic Development Agency for the County of
San Bernardino

    Located at the heart of Southern California, one of the
world's most lucrative economies, the County of San
Bernardino is the largest county in the contiguous United
States.  Its vast borders stretch from the greater Los
Angeles area to the Nevada border and the Colorado River
encompassing a total area of 20,160 square miles. 
Comprised of 24 cities, the County of San Bernardino is the
fifth fastest growing county in the nation with almost two
million residents.  The County's $96 billion economy would
rank among the 50 largest economies in the world. 

    Its assets include numerous colleges and universities
supporting a strong, diverse workforce along with an
unparalleled collection of highways, runways and railways
that lead to regional, national and international business
centers.  The County also benefits from natural assets such
as acclaimed mountain resorts, Joshua Tree National Park and
Mojave National Preserve, the entryway to Death Valley
National Park, Western rivers and numerous local and
regional parks. 

    Under the leadership of the County's Economic
Development Agency, four key departments are dedicated to
providing programs, services and incentives to foster a
competitive environment for businesses and maximize the
standard of living for residents.  The Economic Development
Agency is committed to business first programs in economic
development including business attraction, retention and
expansion, marketing, job development and city-county
collaboration.  In all ways, the County is driven to
provide the foundation that creates greater opportunity for
residents and businesses.  For more information, visit
http://www.OpportunityCA.us . 


    For more information, please contact:

     Paul Herrera						
     County of San Bernardino				
     Cell: [phone] 

     Kathleen Flood 
     MWW Group 
     Cell: [phone]	  

     Ron Demeter
     MWW Group
     Cell: [phone]