Conference highlights local business opportunities in China

By Meena Thiruvengadam, San Antonio Express-News Business Writer
Published 10/25/06

China's more than 1.3 billion citizens make the country a lucrative export market, and several Texas companies are looking to get in on the action. Dan Ludwig, president of Registration Systems Inc., a San Antonio database and information management company, says there's an opportunity for him in China. "I'd like to see if I could help develop more transparency within Chinese organizations," he said.

And although Kinetic Concepts Inc. isn't quite ready to dive into the Chinese market, it is interested in exploring opportunities there. The medical device company already has a presence in 20 countries.

"Right now, for us, it's more about looking at what our long-term strategy should be," said James Cravens, the company's senior vice president of human resources.

Dozens of exporters attended the Business China 2006 conference, sponsored by the International Trade Center at the University of Texas at San Antonio and the Free Trade Alliance San Antonio. About 150 people turned out for the one-day event Tuesday at the University of the Incarnate Word.

"I've been doing this for 11 years, and I don't ever recall a country-specific event we've done that's attracted this kind of interest," said Blake Hastings, executive director of the Free Trade Alliance San Antonio, a local international trade advocacy group.

Texas exports to China grew 10 percent in 2005 to $4.9 million, according to data from the UTSA International Trade Center. Among the state's top exports to China are integrated circuits, chemicals and raw cotton.

"China's importation of commodities in huge quantities has provided manufacturers of the world with a vast market and has stimulated the global economy," Chinese Consul Hua Jinzhou said.

San Antonio's best export opportunities are in the biomedical, engineering and environment sectors, said Elisa Chan, a local businesswoman spearheading efforts to promote trade between San Antonio and China.

"The country is developing at a tremendous speed. They'll be looking at getting innovation and services from somewhere," she said. "San Antonio is positioned very well because we have so many different industries to offer."