Akron's Business Relationship With China
An Insider's Perspective and Prognosis
- Mike Zelin is an op-ed writer for The Chief Source. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin in Business Administration, he currently lives and works in Shanghai.
Today I attended the Factory Automation Show in Shanghai, China. I have always been an avid collector of floor trunking, electrical wires, and automation robots, but my main purpose in attending was to see the one and only Mayor Don L. Plusquellic. The mayor, Deputy Mayor Bob Bowman, and a small team of Akronites, are in China to promote Akron and attract business to our dear home.
This is the first time I have met Mayor Plusquellic, and I must say, he is a stand up guy. His delegation and I sat for about 3 hours talking about Akron, Midwestern job joss, China's growth, and shared some old stories about Akron. It was great to have a talk with him and to be honest, I had mixed emotions about the current and future state of my dear city.
Let's start with the bad news:
As many already know, the Midwest has been losing jobs to cheaper foreign labor and cost cutting, over the past years. The mayor indicated that the city is desperately trying to attract new jobs and industries to the region. Akron needs to compete against all other midsize cities in America with incentives and other carrots to successfully market itself. The road is hard and tough and most prospects usually end in nothing, as far as job creation in the greater Akron area.
The good news:
The mayor and his economic development team are very proactive... (continued in comments)
- Mike Zelin is an op-ed writer for The Chief Source. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin in Business Administration, he currently lives and works in Shanghai.
Today I attended the Factory Automation Show in Shanghai, China. I have always been an avid collector of floor trunking, electrical wires, and automation robots, but my main purpose in attending was to see the one and only Mayor Don L. Plusquellic. The mayor, Deputy Mayor Bob Bowman, and a small team of Akronites, are in China to promote Akron and attract business to our dear home.
This is the first time I have met Mayor Plusquellic, and I must say, he is a stand up guy. His delegation and I sat for about 3 hours talking about Akron, Midwestern job joss, China's growth, and shared some old stories about Akron. It was great to have a talk with him and to be honest, I had mixed emotions about the current and future state of my dear city.
Let's start with the bad news:
As many already know, the Midwest has been losing jobs to cheaper foreign labor and cost cutting, over the past years. The mayor indicated that the city is desperately trying to attract new jobs and industries to the region. Akron needs to compete against all other midsize cities in America with incentives and other carrots to successfully market itself. The road is hard and tough and most prospects usually end in nothing, as far as job creation in the greater Akron area.
The good news:
The mayor and his economic development team are very proactive... (continued in comments)
By Kyle - 11/28/2005
8 Comments:
Mike Zelin continues:Their belief is that Chinese firms are currently reaping the benefits of their cheaper yet more abundant work force; however, this will swing full cycle back to the US. More specifically, as Chinese firms grow, they will want to penetrate the massive US market. In comes Akron. For example, Haeir is one of China's largest appliance manufacturers. They recently attempted to takeover Maytag but the US government did not allow it. In response, they built a massive facility in South Carolina for production and sales. The mayor realizes that Akron has a strong knowledge base, relativity low cost, and tax incentives to bring in new business. It made me proud to know that his team is proactively traveling the globe, looking to draw investment back to Akron. And we vowed to try and work together to attract more business to Northeastern
Ohio.
I do believe that industry will come back to Midwestern America, but not in the form of manufacturing. It will be in sales. As China's large firms decide that they cannot and will not neglect the US market, they will need to set up offices and headquarters in the heartland. Mayor Plusquellic wants to educate the world on Akron, and he is doing it the right way, himself. Good work, Don.
I will be possibly meeting the delegation for beers this week, so hopefully I can get some better photos. Did someone say keg stands???
Great stuff. I have felt for a while that Plusquellic has Akron on the right track (especially when you compare it to its big brother: cleveland). And these type of efforts/ideas are very encouraging.
I remember hearing Plusquellic was going to run for Governor of Ohio. Obviously, he is not now, but sounds like he is the type of leader the entire state of Ohio needs.
I don't really know that much about City planning or development, but under Plusquellic downtown Akron has become a new city. He has done a great job of getting investment back and now people flock to the city on the weekends. I have older friends who told me that in the 80's you could find your way home from downtown by following your tire tracks in the snow.
I agree with Zelin that it is pretty cool that our Mayor is out touring the world looking to bring business back to the area. I have a question for Zelin: How important do you think "face time" is with business leaders in Asia?
not only is D.P. an asshole, but the picture looks like it was taken in a dorm room...plus, who's the schmuck in the background and what's his deal?
Anonymous is an idiot and should not be allowed to post on this blog. Takes away from the site.
Kyle, regarding your question on face time or "Guanxi" in China. It is very important to establish personal relationships before conducting business. Many Chinese businesses will not conclude or even commence business without first developing some sort of personal relationship. I most often deal with foreigners and can be except from establishing these types of relationships, simply because I am white. Would be even easier for you, considering you are red.
Zelin
I understand the need for face time. I'd imagine you can learn a lot of from a brief meeting with potential business partners. That's "thin slicing" for any of you Malcolm Gladwell fans out there.
Zelin, I'm not sure if considering me red is in reference to my actual skin tone or my politics. Both funny.
Kyle,
I should have been more clear. Sorry, I was referring to your skin tone.
Zelin
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