WASHINGTON –Francisco Sánchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, today announced that he will lead a trade delegation to Beijingand Hong Kong, October 13-18, to promote U.S. goods, services, and technologies in the biotechnology sector. Representatives from 19 U.S. biotechnology and architecture/design firms that specialize in biotech facilities and laboratories will join Sánchez on the mission.
“China is considered the most important future market in terms of sales, clinical trial opportunities, and potential investment for U.S.biotech and life science firms,” Sánchez said. “Its enormous consumer base and impressive economic growth reinforce its importance for U.S.companies.”
China’s biotech industry is growing at 20-25 percent annually, outpacing China’s overall growth. Biotech was identified as one of “seven strategic industries” in China’s 12th Five-Year plan. The seven industries are expected to represent more than 15percent of China’s gross domestic product by 2020.
The mission will provide U.S. participants with first-hand market information and access to government decision makers. U.S. companies will be introduced to distributors, public and private buying agents and otherpotential business partners. Additionally, one-on-one meetings will be arranged with potential agents, distributors, and partners, enabling U.S. companies to position themselves to enteror expand their presence in China.
The following companies were selected for participation in the trade mission:
1. Abaxis,Inc. - Union City, Calif.
2. Amgen,Inc. - Thousand Oaks, Calif.
3. Andalyze,Inc. – Champaign, Ill.
4. AppliedScience, Inc. – Grass Valley, Calif
5. Asuragen,Inc. – Austin, Texas
6. BioThemeResearch Solutions, Inc. – Davie, Fla.
7. Codonics,Inc. – Middleburg Heights, Ohio
8. DiaCartaLLC– Hayward, Calif.
9. DynavaxTechnologies Corporation – Berkeley, Calif.
10. Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies – Morristown, N.C.
11. GenzymeCorporation – Cambridge, Mass.
12. HDR Architecture, Inc. –Omaha, Neb.
13. Holabird & Root LLC –Chicago, Ill.
14. Immunophotonics, Inc. – Columbia, Mo.
15. Kornberg Associates – Menlo Park, Calif.
16. Oregon Bioscience Association– Portland, Ore.
17. Ted Jacob EngineeringGroup – Oakland, Calif.
18. Therapeutic Proteins, Inc.– Chicago, Ill.
19. ThermoFisher Scientific, Inc. – Waltham, Mass.
This trade mission advances President Obama’s National Export Initiative which aims to double U.S. exports by the end of 2014,supporting economic and job growth. The business delegation will have an opportunity to promote its equipment, services, and technologies to foreign businesses, buyers, and governments.
The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) has representation across the globe to help businesses start exporting, increase their exports and find business opportunities in foreign countries, leading to job creation in America. ITA also helps ensure a level playing field globally for U.S. businesses.