On-shoring to Nevada

Some unlikely imports Chinese companies looking for locations for American operations are an outgrowth of Nevada's awardwinning international trade operation.

The state's trade representative in Beijing has successfully wooed two Chinese companies that wanted to establish beachheads in the United States.

And more are on the way to Nevada, says Al Di Stefano, director of Global Trade and Investment for the state's Commission on Economic Development.

The opportunity for Nevada officials and their representatives in seven Asian nations comes as companies that export to the United States look to develop facilities ranging from sales offices to distribution centers close to West Coast ports.

"They've done their homework," Di Stefano said last week."They know they can't afford to be in California."

Like American companies drawn by Nevada's tax-friendly environment close to California markets and infrastructure,Asian companies especially Chinese manufacturers seek out Nevada's representatives.

The state's system of trade representatives in Singapore,Taipei, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Italy was honored this month by the Council of State Governments.

The council cited the Nevada program for innovation, noting that the international offices don't cost taxpayers anything.

Instead, companies that use the international offices Nevada companies looking to export, foreign firms looking to enter the Silver State negotiate fees on a deal-by-deal basis with the independent representatives.

"The representatives have a great amount of incentive to be successful in helping the Nevada economic structure thrive and grow," said Lt.

Gov.

Lorraine Hunt, who chairs the commission on economic development.

Statistics tell the story.

Between 2002 and 2003, exports by Nevada companies rose 73 percent.

The next year, they climbed another 43 percent.

Both years, Di Stefano said, the state ranked second in percentage growth rate of exports.

For the first nine months of this year, Nevada's exports are up another 39 percent.