November 30, 1999
Greensboro, NC: Drs. William Amponsah and Xiang Dong Qin of the North Carolina A&T State University International Trade Center recently attended the 1999 Nanjing International Seminar on Productivity Promotion in Nanjing, China.
Amponsah, director of A&T's International Trade Center, delivered a keynote address entitled, "Implications of Productivity to Small Enterprises" during the seminar's opening ceremony. In his address, Amponsah suggested that the key to success for small Chinese enterprises will be their ability to transform into efficient, high-tech entities with the capacity to capitalize on research developments.
With Qin, an assistant professor working with A&T’s International Trade Center, Amponsah also presented a paper entitled, "Creating the Enabling Environment for Agricultural Technology Transfer: Implications for Public and Private Stakeholders." In this paper, Qin and Amponsah discussed the importance of technology in building a strong food supply, using examples from successful American practices.
"In light of the recent US-China trade agreement, many new trade opportunities will emerge," said Amponsah. "When China is allowed into the World Trade Organization, which seems likely now, it will be imperative for both industry and education to work closely with them. We anticipate this trip to be one of many in our efforts to facilitate this process."
The seminar was sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology, People's Republic of China. The Jiangsu Province Productivity Center invited Amponsah and Qin to speak at the seminar.
While in China, Amponsah and Qin also visited the College of Economics and Trade at Nanjing Agricultural University to discuss linkages with the A&T School of Agriculture and American businesses, as well as the Agricultural Trade Office of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service in Shanghai to gather information related to the efforts of the United States to help small businesses gain access to the Chinese market.
For more information, contact Dr. William Amponsah, (336) 334-7056.