Trade Mission to Rugao, China, Leads to Economic Development, Academic Opportunities for Tallahassee

Tallahassee, Fla.- A recent trade mission to Rugao, China, led by Mayor John Marks, the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County and representatives of Tallahassee’s business community, Florida State University and Florida A&M University, yielded a host of education and economic development opportunities for Tallahassee and a formal Sister City relationship between the cities. In a presentation at the Tallahassee City Commission meeting today, delegation members outlined significant progress in promoting the Tallahassee’s businesses and universities to its newest Sister City.

“The trade mission to Rugao laid the groundwork for increased economic development and academic partnerships between Tallahassee and Rugao,” said Mayor John Marks. “We’ve identified exciting new opportunities for Tallahassee’s businesses and universities, which will lead to benefits for the entire community.”

Accomplishments include:

Economic Development

• Developed/expanded business opportunities for Tallahassee-based businesses, including PortStar, Danfoss Turbocor and BEC Industries, LLC.
• Agreed to partner with the Rugao Economic Development Zone Management Committee on renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, research & engineering and information technology. This will also encompass opportunities in workforce development, commercialization of research, and new business formation.
• Committed to explore the creation of a science and technology research and business park that fosters new startup high-tech companies.

Academic/Research

• Discussed implementing a 3-2 engineering degree program between Jiangsu University and the FSU-FAMU College of Engineering. Chinese students would spend three years studying at their home university (e.g. Jiangsu University) and then spend the remaining two years of their engineering education at the FSU-FAMU College of Engineering.
• Explored the expansion of the study abroad programs for students at FSU and FAMU.
• Discussed developing partnerships between Jiangsu University’s Medical College and FSU Medical College, FAMU Pharmacy College and other health-related programs.
• Explored partnership opportunities between FAMU’s Agricultural Sciences and Jiangsu University’s Agricultural Engineering programs.
• Discussed potential collaborations on research initiatives including renewable energy.

General

• Formalized a Sister City agreement, with a signing ceremony on Oct. 27.
• Designated representatives from each city government to serve as liaisons.

A full list of accomplishments is included in the Tallahassee Trade Mission to Rugao, China Accomplishment and Ongoing Initiatives report.

“Not only did the trip to Rugao establish the relationships needed to create long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships in targeted industries important to our region, but also provided an opportunity to quickly develop and expand business opportunities for Tallahassee-based businesses,” said Beth Kirkland, executive director of the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County.

“Chinese engineers, businesspeople, and scientists will have an increasingly prominent role in the new global economy,” said Dr. John Collier, Interim Dean of the FSU-FAMU College of Engineering. “By expanding faculty/student exchange programs, we can help FSU and FAMU graduates develop a greater understanding of Chinese culture and business practices. This, in turn, will make them more desirable to employers and more effective leaders in the workforce.”

The trip delegation consisted of:

• Tallahassee Mayor John Marks
• Dr. John Collier, Interim Dean of the FSU-FAMU College of Engineering
• Dr. Dena Hurst, Deputy Director, John Scott Dailey Florida Institute of Government at Florida State University
• Tola Thompson, Director of Governmental Relations, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University
• Beth Kirkland, Executive Director, Tallahassee / Leon County Economic Development Council
• Dean Minardi, Chief Financial Officer, Bing Energy International Inc.
• John Thomas “J.T.” Burnette, a technology / business investor and hotelier
• Rick Minor, Chief of Staff to Mayor Marks and the City’s Intergovernmental Liaison
• Ying Wang, President of the Tallahassee-Rugao Sister City Committee

The City of Tallahassee did not incur any travel expenses for this trip. All of the officials’ airfares, hotel expenses, and meals were paid by the City of Rugao in conjunction with the Tallahassee-Rugao Sister City program (an independent 501(c)4 organization with no financial affiliation with the City of Tallahassee).