Summit County Department of Development Hosting China Trade Forum For Summit County Businesses

On April 24, Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry and the Department of Development will host a China Trade Forum featuring William Sinn, a foreign trade expert based in Northeast Ohio.

Mr. Sinn’s consulting firm, Sinn & Co., has shared its expertise with several Ohio-based companies. Sinn’s program, entitled “China Trade – Successful Strategies”, will share with Summit County businesses techniques to understand China’s local markets and to identify customers and partners.

This informational forum aligns with the Ohio Department of Development’s global trade strategy. ODOD recently announced the opening of its international trade office in Beijing, its third such office in China. The others are located in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

As global business pressure mounts, it’s not unusual for companies to examine emerging markets for a new and diverse customer base. “We believe that our manufacturing and service-focused companies can strengthen their local operations and hire more Summit County residents by exploring China’s significant emerging consumer market,” Executive Pry said. “I’m pleased to host Mr. Sinn so that local companies can benefit from his deep expertise.”

Summit County companies have been increasing their trade output with foreign partners, especially China. In 2005 and again in 2006 (the last years for which data is available), the Akron MSA alone accounted for 9% of all Ohio-based trade with China. The total value of exported goods during that two year period was over $6.5 billion US. These numbers are remarkable considering the Akron MSA, as defined by the Census Bureau, includes only Summit and Portage counties.