C HINA Fostering business and culturalI harmonyNSIGHT between China and the U.S. VOL. 13 NO. 7 JULY/AUG 2014 Yvonne Cheung Ho honored at MEDA’s 43rd annual recognition luncheon 25 yrs after Tiananmen, page 4 By Greg Hugh The Grand Ballroom of the Hilton ness Development, General Mills, Inc. Minneapolis was filled to capacity when MEDA (www.meda.net) has helped the Metropolitan Economic Develop- launch more than 490 enterprises ment Association (MEDA) recently held since business and community leaders its 43rd annual luncheon to celebrate founded the organization in 1971. It Minnesota’s successful entrepreneurs has served more than 19,400 clients of color, and to honor the leadership of and secured more than $140 million Yvonne Cheung Ho who retired June in financing for minority-owned busi- 30 after heading the organization for 15 nesses. MEDA’s annual survey reported Lin and the opium war, page 5 successful years. that the minority business community it After the guests were seated and serves represents $1.3 billion in annual enjoyed their lunch, Maury Glover, Darren Harmon, Director, Supplier Diver- revenue and employs more than 6,100 sity and Business Development, General Fox 9 reporter, and emcee started the Mills, Inc. present special Wheaties Box to Minnesotans, of which about 42 percent program by introducing Douglas Eden, Yvonne Ho. are minorities. Yvonne’s Story contin- MEDA board chair, to deliver his open- ued on page 3. ing comments followed by John Stout, CEO and Andrea Novak, BMO Harris MEDA board member. Bank, then continued the program with Cheung Ho, MEDA president and a year-in-review update and the awards presentation. Earning the Charles W. The Chinese tourist, page 6 Poe, Jr. Entrepreneur of the Year was Elise Hernandez, president and CEO of IdealSystems Solutions. Additional honorees included: Kraus-Anderson Companies Inc. as Corporation of the Year; Association of Women Contrac- tors as Community Partner of the Year; Anita Bellant, (center) Manager of Diver- John Benzick, Venture Superflyas sity and EEO, Metropolitan Airports Com- Volunteer of the Year and Cathy Cruz mission along with (right) Deb Johnsoln, Gooch, Catallia Mexican Foods, Entre- Contract and EEO Specialist, congratulate A hidden tragedy, page 7 preneurial Hall of Fame. Yvonne Ho (left). Board Members of the Chinese Heritage In recognition of her service to Foundation along with a few friends from MEDA, Cheung Ho was presented with Editor’s note: the Chinese community congratulate the special “Breakfast of champions” Visit www.chinainsight.info for the Yvonne Ho. box of Wheaties by Darren Harmon, July-August 2013 issue (p.15) to read director, Supplier Diversity and Busi- about Yvonne Ho. u Minnesota exports grow in the first Flower power, page 8 quarter of 2014 In This Issue State Exports Grow 2 Percent led to exports falling 12 percent to in the First Quarter of 2014 Canada. Pronouncements..2 • Minnesota exports (including ag- • Asia (up 4 percent to $1.6 billion) and Community..........3 ricultural, mining and manufactured the European Union (EU; up 7 percent Politics..........4 products) were valued at $5 billion, to $1.1 billion) continued to lead in ex- and grew 2.0 percent between the first port gains. In Asia, wood pulp (up 894 Business......4,10 quarters of 2013 and 2014, slightly less percent) and optics/medical products Government.....5 than U.S. growth of 2.6 percent. (up 8 percent) helped offset weaker Travel.........6,9 • Exports grew by more than 20 percent demand for machinery products (down 13 percent). In the EU, optics/medical Health..........7 to five of the state’s top 10 country Exports to Asia and the European (up 8 percent) and electrical equipment Food..........8 markets, and increased to eight of the Union Grow More Than 10 Percent (up 18 percent) helped offset declines state’s top 10 product groups. • The state’s exports to North America Education.......11 • Referring to the manufacturing sector in aircraft/spacecraft (down 33 percent) fell 2 percent to $1.7 billion. Machinery, Books........12 alone, Minnesota manufactured exports exports. vehicles and electrical equipment fueled were valued at almost $5 billion in the • Strong export gains to the Australia- Language.......13 first quarter of 2014 and grew 4.4 per- export gains to Mexico (up 49 percent; Pacific region (up 16 percent to $162 Events.........15 cent during this period, exceeding the market with largest gains). Reduced million) were due to increased sales of U.S. manufactured export growth rate sales of mineral fuels/oils, machinery, (1 percent). beverages, ores/slag/ash and vehicles Continues on page 12 PAGE 2 > JULY-AUGUST 2014 pronouncements www.chinainsight.info Publisher’s Pronouncements CHINAINSIGHT Publisher/Editor: Greetings: Gregory J. Hugh [email protected] By the time you read this edition of We are also pleased to announce In the meantime, we hope you enjoy China Insight, I sincerely hope that the that China Insight is now including your summer and thank you for your Manager of Operations/ rains have subsided and that summer a calendar of events on its website at continued support. Please don’t hesitate Circulation: has finally arrived in Minnesota so that www.chinainsight.info. We invite you to to contact me if you have any comments Richard He you were able to celebrate the nation’s submit your events that involve China- or ideas to share on how China Insight [email protected] birthday under clear blue skies. Al- related activities. Our webmaster, Will can better serve the community. though we still face the threat of floods Ahern, has been busy updating our through many parts of Minnesota, the website to include this feature. Another Sincerely Staff Writers: worse may be over and we can now go new feature is you, our readers, can Greg Hugh about what we do best in Minnesota, now post comments about our articles. [email protected] enjoy the great outdoors. Please feel free to visit the website and Elaine Dunn post your comments. [email protected] Please note that China Insight will not publish a separate issue for August. Anthony James Gregory J. Hugh [email protected] Our hardworking volunteer staff need Publisher a break. We will return in September. Jodi Yim James [email protected] Contributors: Patrick Welsh [email protected] Raymond Lum [email protected] The outdoor activity not to be missed is the Dragon Festival on July 12 & 13 Webmaster: that will be held at Phalen Lake Park, St. Will Ahern Paul. This is the largest Pan-Asian event [email protected] of the Twin Cities and is totally free! 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Title______________________________________ All Rights Reserved. www.chinainsight.info community JULY-AUGUST 2014 > PAGE 3 China Briefs Yvonne Cheung Ho’s Selected newsworthy items story recently published in the Chinese press. capacity. • Diversified revenue sources to in- corporate foundations and cooperative Luxury outlet shopping expands agreements with government agencies. Logo-conscious Chinese now have a • Rescued the Minnesota Procurement new luxury shopping complex to spend Technical Assistance Center following their money. A European discount lux- state funding cuts in 2003. ury outlet chain opened a 35,000 square • Established the Minneapolis MBDA meters “shopping village” at Suzhou Business Center in 2011 under a cooper- with approximately 100 boutiques. The ative agreement with the Minority Busi- “village” is within a couple of hours’ ness Development Agency (MBDA) of drive from Shanghai. the Department of Commerce. Another designer outlet, the Flo- rentia Village Designer Outlet Centre, • Launched the first Federal Procure- opened in June 2011 and is located ment Center devoted to connecting Yvonne Cheung Ho, President & CEO between Beijing and Tianjin.