The Center for International Business Advancement and Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) held a China Trade and Investment Forum on October 5, 2015. Speakers at the event were Mr. Edward Kowalewski, Director of International Programs at Empire State Development and Private Sector Liaison to the World Bank Group, and Mr. Matthew Koon, Consulting Manager at Tractus, Building Business in Asia from the Shanghai, China office.

Mr. Koon focused his talk on trade and doing business in China. He highlighted recent trends in the Chinese market and how to access ESD’s agent/distributor searches or any of ESD’s financial assistance programs. He also outlined the importance of China as a source of foreign direct investment to the Southern Tier, NY Region, especially through the EB-5 immigrant investor program.

Mr. Kowalewski provided details on the new $10 million ESD Global NY Grant Fund that includes $2 million a year for NYS companies and non-profits pursuing international business opportunities; the new $25 million Global NY Loan Fund that will allow better access to export working capital and trade finance for smaller companies; and the latest round of the State Trade & Export Promotion (STEP) Grant Program that has $664,000 available for NYS companies interested in exporting to foreign markets.