In New York, we decided now that
we are doing business in the U.S., and
we have a new location, we must be
able to teach the policies, regulations,
ways of doing business, and the dif-
ferences in American and Chinese
customs and culture. There was a lot
to learn and do to bring Chinese
business and American together.
Q: For businessmen in China to be
able to work with businessmen here.
A: And vice versa.
Q: That is what your Chamber
does for people? I am curious, since
you worked in New Jersey, you may
clarify something. Some people here
think that Jersey has all the same as-
sets we have, and maybe more.
A:
Actually here, there are more, a
lot more. Houston is called the Pe-
troleum Capital. Houston has the oil,
the refineries, the port, and more.
Houston is the best location. Hous-
ton is growing. So, I decided to send
one person at first, an American. I
said, “Why don’t you go to Hous-
ton?” He relocated himself and start-
ed to work.
work here.
Q: That is what a lot of people don’t
get. They think all the business goes
out. But every business generates more
business.
ed. This is very important; especially
for management.
Q: Yes, the owner or manager of a
business must be very careful, and it
is still easy to make a mistake.
A: That is a trend. As time goes on, A: That is why the seminars and the
more and more Chinese are inter-
ested in coming here either for ex-
pansion or as an investment. That will
help the local community. They cre-
ate employment opportunities and
growth opportunities, and they pay
taxes. Chamber are so important. There are
classes on environment, packaging,
office manners, customs, procedures
of doing business, and more.
Q: So, the Consul gets involved with political affairs, and the Chamber
helps the businessman. the East West Bank, will speak about
the differences between American
and Chinese business.
A: Q: That is a point I wanted to
Yes, we help members do busi-
ness here and in China. And we help
Chinese businesses get established
here and promote themselves.
Q: Right. Learning the new rules
and regulations and getting acquainted
with each other.
Q: When is this event?
A: In April. One of our members,
make. You do not have to be Chinese
to be a member.
A:
Surely not! We open the doors,
and we invite anyone to join.
Q: American businesses who may
want to export to China?
We have 4 local chapters here.
We concentrate on business relation- A: And for businesses that may
ships and resolving any problems our want to invest in China, to trade, or
to manufacture. We welcome all, and
members may have.
we will help with any problems that
Q: You started with one person?
may come up. An example is a com-
Q: Are there any events that are
pany that opened in Corpus Christi,
A: One guy in 2004 to 2008. Now coming up that you would like to
PPCO. We went with all our mem-
we have 90 employees.
mention?
bers to spend a day there. We were
A:
Just
a
week
ago,
we
got
our
1st
to find 7 people working
Q: Ninety employees working here. big event, HSE. We focus on Health, pleased
there some of whom were family.
A: After this interview, I will show Safety, and Environment. There will Three were American and four were
you a lot.
be seminars on differences in do- Chinese. This is what I like to see,
ing business here and in China, ways American and Chinese together. We
Q: That will be wonderful. I will
of doing business, traditions, hiring do market analysis, promotion, finan-
have a lot more interesting photo. We
practices, management, sales tech- cial analysis, whatever they need. We
are curious. Do you ever work with
niques, and more. I will give you an like to do on site analysis.
the Chinese Consulate in any capac-
example.
ity?
I am in the first year of the second
Q:
Right. Give me one example.
term as Chairman. We had 32 mem-
A: Not really. We feel that the Cham-
bers. Now we have more than dou-
ber of Commerce is an independent A: In China, we can say, we have a bled that. By the end of this year, I
entity, a non-profit organization. We position open. He must be male only, plan to triple that.
provide a service to the members; not older than 35, and should have
i.e. market analysis, marketing, op- some post-graduate credits. In the For more information on how to be
portunities for investment, promo- U.S., this employer is potentially in a part of the growing business with
tion of their products, and more. The trouble. But that is the way we always China and to participate in events,
services are for the companies here have done things in China, and we contact Shaolin Li at 832-325-7818
who want to work in China, and for are doing that now. There are truths or [email protected].
the Chinese companies who want to to be learned and errors to be avoid-
A:
iF Magazine | www.iFMagazine.net
53