Expanding Mississippi Trade with China

Mississippi-China Trade Forum in Jackson

Chinese firms representing billions of dollars in potential investment opportunities are in Mississippi this week.. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.

About 30 Chinese delegates representing aviation, automotive, biotechnology and other industries are in Jackson scouting business opportunities in the state. Siva Yam, President of the US China Chamber of Commerce says this is his groups first time visiting Mississippi.

“The weather is beautiful and the people are more important. They are very friendly. I think to be a good state is not where you are located , it’s who the people are.”

Mississippi and China have a long standing relationship. Gray Swoope, President of the Mississippi Development Authority hopes these talks will strengthen that bond.

“If you look at the first quarter of ’09 compared to the first quarter of ’08 you’ll see Mississippi had the 2nd largest increase in exports than any other state in the union. The big reason for that is that many of our products are going to China. And so today we are here to learn a little bit more about opportunities for Mississippi companies to export to China. As well as some of the Chinese companies here are looking at Mississippi for possible investment opportunities.”

Since Governor Haley Barbour visited China Two years ago there have been serious discussions with at least two Chinese companies about doing business in Mississippi. Whether something becomes of it Governor Barbour says remains to be seen.

“But there is a long history in Mississippi of foreign investment that goes back to the 19th century. And of course we have Nissan and Toyota.”

Some other successful foreign investment companies currently operating in Mississippi include, Severstal, PSA North America and PACCAR. For MPB News, I'm Lawayne Childrey.