November 20, 2002
Wednesday - 12:05 am

In response to China's growing importance as a trading partner to Alaska businesses, Gov. Tony Knowles announced Tuesday the selection of Yingdi Wang to serve as the State of Alaska Trade Representative for China. Wang is a former Alaskan with long-standing ties among the Alaska business community, particularly with the forest products industries. He will be based in Beijing.

"When I led a group of Alaska business leaders to China in the fall of 2000, the message we received was that China is increasingly looking to Alaska to supply natural resources and

"Alaska has been a pioneer among American states in establishing trade representation in Asia," ... Greg Wolf, Director of the Division of International Trade and Market Development

technical services to its rapidly growing marketplace," Knowles said. "They are also looking to Alaska to supply seafood for their large and growing population."

Twenty business leaders and the governor traveled to China to focus attention on several promising export sectors, including energy, seafood, environmental engineering and oil and gas support services. The mission members returned to Alaska with a much better understanding of opportunities for Alaska companies to do business in China. They also encouraged the state to establish trade representation in the country to assist Alaskan firms to identify and pursue these opportunities.

"We're glad to have Yingdi Wang as part of the state's trade team," said Deborah Sedwick, commissioner of the Department of Community and Economic Development. "We considered a field of strong candidates but Yingdi knows Alaska and has experience to help Alaska's businesses make connections and grow their exports."

Born and raised in Beijing, Wang received his undergraduate and graduate education in Anchorage. He has an MBA with a focus in international trade from Alaska Pacific University. For the past 15 years he has worked in international trade between the U.S. and China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. He has extensive experience with the forest products industry and currently resides in Beijing.

In 2001, China ranked as Alaska's fifth largest trading partner. Exports to China, primarily seafood, totaled $110 million last year. Other important Alaska exports to China include fish waste (used for animal feed) and aquaculture, petroleum products, and forest products. In the same year, Alaska's worldwide exports totaled $2.4 billion.

"Alaska has been a pioneer among American states in establishing trade representation in Asia," said Greg Wolf, director of the Division of International Trade and Market Development. "While we are not first in China, we are among the vanguard who recognize that China's economic growth and modernization will bring significant benefits. During the first six months of this year, Alaska's exports to China have already grown 30 percent over last year. The timing couldn't be better."

Alaska joins eight other states with trade representation in China. The State of Alaska also has trade representation in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the Russian Far East.

"ASMI is looking forward to partnering with the Division of International Trade's new trade representative to promote Alaska's products to one of the world's fastest growing markets," said Ray Riutta, executive director of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI). ASMI has had representation in Shanghai since 1997.

"Yingdi will be an excellent addition as Alaska's China trade representative," said Rick Harris, vice president for natural resources at Sealaska. "His experience and knowledge of both the Alaska and Chinese forest products industries will help open the door for Alaska products in China."

Source of News Release:

Office of the Governor
Web Site

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