The MMAC (Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce) is leading a trade mission to China September 14-22, 2005. This mission will follow up on the success of the one led by Governor Jim Doyle in March 2004. During the 2004 mission, MMAC President Tim Sheehy made a number of valuable contacts with government and private sector decision-makers. MMAC has since hosted two delegations from China. The most recent one participated in the 41st annual Wisconsin International Trade Conference.

The MMAC delegation will make stops in Beijing, Ningbo, and Shanghai. The Wisconsin Department of Commerce Trade Office in Shanghai will arrange one-on-one business appointments for participants in that city. The U.S. embassy and Chinese contacts will arrange appointments in the other stops. Commerce is helping to recruit companies to the mission, and will link potential exporters with services from the state's China Office.

China is a very large and diverse country. Competition can be fierce, but opportunities exist for Wisconsin business people seeking to conduct business there. Direct experience of the market and contacts in the right places are critical elements to success. For more information on the mission, contact Peter Beitzel at MMAC, ph: (414) 287-4100, pbeitzel@mmac.org.

-- Stanley Pfrang

The newsletter is issued electronically every other month.

Please send comments or questions to Barbro McGinn, editor.