International Delegations Visit NH Seeking Partnerships, Economic Opportunities

Two international delegations looking to forge relationships and opportunities visited New Hampshire this week, meeting with state and local economic development officials and touring academic and manufacturing facilities.
On Wednesday, about a dozen members of the Istanbul Efficiency Business Association were in Concord and Manchester for meetings with legislators, the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, Mayor Ted Gatsas, the Greater Manchester Economic Development Office and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Following the well-attended Turkish Cultural Day at the statehouse, the group traveled to the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, where they discussed increasing academic exchanges and trade opportunities.
A day later, on Thursday, eight officials from the Jilin province in China met again with the Division of Economic Development for a discussion about opportunities to increase trade and partnerships with high precision and advanced manufacturing.
“Having two international delegations visiting the state within a day of each other is somewhat unique,” said Tina Kasim, program manager for the Office of International Commerce at the state Department of Resources and Economic Development. “This speaks to the visibility New Hampshire has globally and the interest there is in our high precision and advanced manufacturing skills and higher education centers. What this will mean for New Hampshire businesses are opportunities to grow or expand their exports, and ultimately add more jobs to the New Hampshire economy.”
Eyup Sener, New England Regional Director of the Council of Turkic American Associations, said there are about 5,000 Turkish-Americans living in New Hampshire, eager to foster relationships between the two countries.
Kasim noted that Turkey is the Granite State’s ninth largest trading partner; China is third.
 “Establishing connections between the two countries will increase cultural and academic exchanges and increase export and import markets,” she said.
The Chinese delegation included Gao Cailin, Director General of the Office of Financial Affairs of the Jilin province and Dai Min, president of the Center for America-China Partnership. Their visit included a tour of JP Sercel Associates in Manchester and discussion about New Hampshire’s high precision and advanced manufacturing industries.
“We are eager and excited to continue these dialogues, which we are confident will lead to even more export opportunities for New Hampshire companies,” said Christopher Way, interim director of the Division of Economic Development.