Friday, November 21, 2008

"Challenges and Rewards: Doing Business with China in 2009"

Artisan Business Group is announcing a new executive seminar "Challenges and Rewards: Doing Business with China in 2009" - please log on http://www.artisanbusinessgroup.com for complete details.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Obtain L-1 Visa and Green Card by Establishing a Company in the USA

The PowerPoint presentation is programmed for foreign company executives who are interested in obtaining legal residency (Green Card) by establishing a company or office in the U.S. This is one of the best and cost effective ways for foreign company owners to immigrate to the USA.

Topics: Overview of L-1 Visa Program; Requirements for Registering a Business Entity in the U.S.; Procedures and Timetable for Applying for the L-1 Visa and Green Card; Things You Must Know When Applying for L-1 and Green Card; and Q&A.

Please log on http://www.midwestUSAChina.com for details.

Monday, November 17, 2008

China to pump 5.15 billion yuan into agriculture

New investments in rural infrastructure totaling 5.15 billion yuan (US$750 million) have been announced by the Ministry of Agriculture.

3 billion yuan (US$440 million) on rural methane projects

3 billion yuan (US$440 million) will be spent on rural methane projects. The plan calls for household biogas to be provided to 2.25 million families in 1,212 counties; more than 30,000 biogas service outlets will be built in 1,496 counties.

Household biogas projects will be concentrated in areas south of the Yellow River. It is estimated the plan will stimulate additional investment of 7.2 billion yuan (US$1.05 billion) from local governments and private sources, meaning a total increase in demand of 10.2 billion yuan (US$1.49 billion); the projects use 6.5 million tons of cement, 0.5 million tons of steel and 17,000 agricultural vehicles.

The projects will benefit over 2 million rural households, and make savings of 1.15 billion yuan (US$168 million) in fuel and fertilizer costs. More than 100,000 jobs for biogas technicians will be created, resulting in increased income of about 1.2 billion yuan (US$176 million) among farmers.

800 million yuan (US$117.13 million) on high-quality grain production

800 million yuan (US$117.13 million) will be spent developing 226,667 hectares of farmland in 272 counties. It is estimated that the plan will stimulate further local investment of 350 million yuan (US$51.24 million) making a total of 1.15 billion yuan (US$168 million). The project will use 680,000 tons of cement and 14,300 tons of steel.

The project will require 5.1 million additional working days, which will increase incomes by 400 million yuan (US$58.56 million) for technicians. If each hectare of farmland produces the target 750 kilograms of grain per year, food production will increase by 170 million kilograms, and farm incomes will grow by nearly 300 million yuan (US$43.92 million).

700 million yuan (US$102.48 million) on prevention of animal epidemics

700 million yuan (US$102.48 million) will be spent on 9,674 township veterinary stations in 2,097 counties. It is estimated that additional local and private investment will amount to 267 million yuan (US$39.09 million) making a total of 967 million yuan (US$141.58 million) in increased demand. Technicians’ income will rise by 174 million yuan (US$25.47 million).

500 million yuan (US$73.2 million) on quality inspection system

500 million yuan (US$73.2 million) will be spent establishing a quality inspection system for agricultural products. It will stimulate further local investment of 165.4 million yuan (US$24.22 million) and increase overall demand by 660 million yuan (US$96.63 million).

150 million yuan (US$21.96 million) to repair dangerous buildings

150 million yuan (US$21.96 million) will be spent building 1 million square meters of housing space for low-income farm residents, and will improve housing conditions for 20,000 farm workers. It will stimulate further investment of 1.2 billion yuan (US$176 million) from local governments and the farm workers themselves, increasing overall national demand by over 1.35 billion yuan (US$198 million).

It is estimated that 599,000 families are still living in dangerous buildings in Heilongjiang, Guangdong, Hainan and Yunnan. Improving their housing conditions will bring about a major improvement in social welfare.

Log on http://www.MidwestUSAChina.com


Sunday, November 16, 2008

China to invest more than 1 trillion yuan in grid construction

BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), the country's biggest power supplier, plans to more than double its investment for the next two years to a total of 1.16 trillion yuan (169.9 billion U.S. dollars) for grid construction nationwide.

"We decided to add about 500 billion yuan investment to the original 550 billion yuan scheduled for 2009 and 2010 in a bid to help stimulate domestic demand," said a statement on the corporation's website.

The planned investment is yet to be approved by the State Council, or China's Cabinet.

SGCC general manager assistant Lu Jian said the company had already arranged 12 billion yuan in the fourth quarter for the development of urban and rural power supply in the country's central and western regions.

"We got 2.73 billion yuan from the central government. The rest was from bank loans and company funds," he said.

The State Council announced on Thursday a 100-billion-yuan package to accelerate national economic development in the fourth quarter. SGCC was granted 68.2 percent of the 4 billion yuan that went to support grid building.

Experts said power construction could directly benefit industries such as metallurgy, building materials, electricity and machinery manufacturing, as it would promote investment, consumption and trade.

Industry statistics show that the construction of every 100 kilometers of power lines of a 500-kilovolt grid project consumed 5,000 tons of steel, 2,000 tons of aluminum and 7,000 cubic meters of cement.

In 1998, the government invested more than 300 billion yuan in grid building projects to stimulate the domestic economy and fend off the financial crisis in the southeast Asia, according to the SGCC announcement.

Log on http://www.MidwestUSAChina.com

Friday, November 14, 2008

China offers details on 4 trln yuan stimulus package

BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese planning official told reporters here on Friday that the new 4 trillion yuan (586 billion U.S. dollars) economic stimulus package includes 1.18 trillion yuan from the central government through 2010.

Mu Hong, vice director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said the agency would add 100 billion yuan of new investment during the fourth quarter.

The central government's investment, combined with that of businesses and local governments, would bring the total spending to 4 trillion yuan by the end of 2010, he said.

"The 4 trillion yuan is only part of the country's total investment. It is not the total," Mu said.

Officials have said that a "large part" of the total package was new money, but they have not provided specific figures.

The stimulus package was announced on Sunday amid rising concern about a sharp slowdown in the world's fourth-largest economy. China's gross domestic product grew 9 percent annually in the third quarter, down from 10.1 percent in the second quarter and 10.6 percent in the first quarter.

"To boost domestic demand has become the priority of current economic work," Mu told reporters. He added the package would stimulate both short- and long-term demand, as it would spur economic growth while transforming the type of growth.

Log on http://www.MidwestUSAChina.com

Thursday, November 13, 2008

China to step up efforts to improve urban and rural infrastructure

BEIJING, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Jiang Weixin said on Thursday that the ministry would put boosting domestic demands on top of its agenda and ramp up efforts on urban infrastructure and public utilities construction.

"Local housing and urban-rural development agencies should also step up efforts on the construction projects for the low-rent and affordable apartments," Jiang said at an internal tele-conference held here.

China plans to invest 900 billion yuan (131.8 billion U.S. dollars) for housing construction in the coming three years, which would benefit 7.47 million low-income households.

Jiang also urged local industry watchdogs to continue pushing forward the energy-saving work in the construction sector.

The ministry called on more efforts to better regulate the real estate market and to encourage and support reasonable housing consumption.

In a similar development, the Ministry of Agriculture said on Thursday the country would add 5.15 billion yuan to improve agricultural infrastructure projects and farmers' living standards, part of the country's 4 trillion yuan economy stimulus package unveiled on Sunday by the State Council, or Cabinet.

Log on http://www.MidwestUSAChina.com

Monday, November 10, 2008

Meeting with FirstPathWay Partners

Mr. Brian Su, President of Artisan Business Group, was invited to present an executive briefing to FirstPathway Partners before the firm's top executives' departure to China on November 10, 2008. Mr. Su's presentation, titled "Reports from China - Attracting Chinese Investment to the U.S.," explores the key elements of a successful business strategy and execution for American firms that are actively seeking capital for their investment projects from China. Mr. Bob Kraft, CEO & Chairman, Mr. Dan Wycklendt, Vice President of Compliance, and Mr. Jason Li, Director of Investor Relations attended the briefing.

The FirstPathway Partners (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) have been doing business around the globe for over thirty years, the last seven years focused almost exclusively on the Peoples Republic of China. The firm helps foreign investors become United States citizens through the Department of Homeland Security Immigrant Investor (EB5) program.

For more information, log on http://www.midwestusachina.com


Sunday, November 2, 2008

NOVEMBER 6 • Global Challenges for Bi-National & Multi-National Chambers of Commerce (BNC luncheon)

Please join us for a luncheon presentation on Global Challenges for Bi-National & Multi-National Chambers of Commerce: Providing International Business Information to Companies & Entrepreneurs in the U.S. Midwest

Traditionally, companies and entrepreneurs relied on their local, regional, national , bi- and multi-national chambers of commerce for networking and information gathering. Are these chambers fulfilling their roles?

In the last decade, many specialized organizations entered the world market providing companies with the primary and the secondary information needed for going global.

In this presentation, we will review some of the main sources of markets information available globally and explain their usefulness to internationally minded businesses, entrepreneurs and chambers of commerce.

Speaker:
Owais Succari, Ph.D.

Professor of International Management, Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, DePaul University, Chicago
Past Executive Director, Midamerica-Arab Chamber of Commerce, Chicago

Progam Time: 11:45 am – 2:00 pm
Weber Grill Restaurant
  • After you checked in at the reception you will be assisted to a pre-arranged seat
  • Every attendee will have 15-sec. for self-introduction
  • Once the dessert has been served, the speaker will deliver the talk
  • Q & A session following the presentation in English, Arabic, French or Mandarin
  • Don't miss bringing 50 of your business cards with you and share them freely with the other attendees
  • Networking and international deal making
  • As a traditon, the event will conclude with a raffle

    Easy access: via CTA trains and buses

    Register online at http://bnc3.eventbrite.com/