Starting in 2009 with a request from a Chinese University, our team started travelling to China, initially to teach American business practices to Chinese students. After huge success, our team was invited back the next year to present to both universities AND business leaders. Our reputation in China was growing! IN fact, the city of Kansas City recognized our growing reputation in China and asked us how they could improve Kansas City’s international business dealings in China. We observed and found that Kansas City needed a stronger presence in the global market.
As part of our analysis, we found that international business is reliant on previously established relationships. From 2009-2012 we were able to develop our newfound acquaintances into strong business connections.
In 2013, we were approached by the City Council of Kansas City. They had heard of our successes in China and requested a partnership to build on their new international initiative. Capitalizing on our previously established relationships, we began setting up meetings with important government and business leaders in China.
We hypothesized: If we include KC officials in the meetings we establish, then they could build off our relationships to create new connections and have a direct impact on the Kansas City economy!
For the past seven years, our team has taken action. We have been on the ground in China, travelling city to city, meeting with those important groups that we identified and promoting the business advantages KC has to offer. We have met with the Changsha Federation of Industry and Commerce, the Changsha Municipal Government, the Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, and many other business and government decision makers in China.
In 2014, after our first trip to Changsha, a central Chinese city, our team supported the formation of a trade agreement between the City of Changsha and the City of Kansas City. According to Mayor Sly James, this trade agreement will create millions of dollars in revenue and create jobs in our city.
In 2015 our team travelled back to Changsha and continued to build off the relationships we had previously established. When we left, we had an offer for three KC companies to be placed in the Changsha High Tech Park for three years, a $70,000 value….for free. The High Tech Park is a 30 billion dollar technology incubator focused on supporting start up companies. !
In 2016, we promoted a trade summit that will bring Chinese companies to Kansas City.
Now in 2017, Our team is currently in the midst of planning, promoting, and organizing this large scale trade symposium in Kansas City. We are leading this collaboration with the Economic Development Corporation and the City Council. This KC Trade Summit will bring Kansas City and Chinese companies together to promote future business growth.
Our team has made a long term commitment to help Kansas City grow through international business. We have been to over 10 cities in China, met with over 25 universities, Numerous government organizations, and spoken to countless large scale companies.
Establishing and building on our relationships in China will allow Kansas City companies to access new markets, bring investment to large projects in Kansas City, and set up a collaborative relationship that will build jobs and revenue in our city. This project has garnered the support of the highest government officials in Kansas City including Mayor Sly James, Mayor Pro Tem Scott Wagner, Narbeli Galindo, the International Business Director for the KC Economic Development Corporation, and Darcy Howe, Managing Director of the KCRise Fund.
Our team saw opportunity, built relationships, and is now supporting millions of dollars of future revenue in our city. This impact doesn’t happen overnight. Our team has been on the ground in China identifying the opportunities that Kansas City has, and allowing Kansas City to continue to grow through international trade.
