Muscatine has friends in high places
Bill
Phelan, center, presents Mark Twain’s quote about Muscatine’s sunsets
to Ye Changqing, right, who’s leading a delegation from China’s Hebei
Province. At left is Albert Liu, director of Asian sales for Musco
Lighting, who offered his translation services Thursday during meetings
between the delegation and Muscatine business and educational leaders.
... And Muscatine could be right in the middle of it all
MUSCATINE, Iowa — China’s grappling with serious issues, including air quality and food safety, a delegation from Hebei Province told a group of Muscatine business and education leaders Thursday.
But Muscatine, along with other Iowa firms as well as educators, have the know-how to help.
Now it’s just a matter of laying the groundwork to make that happen.
“Many in China already have an investment in the U.S., and their comment was, ‘If we have a choice, why not choose Iowa, because the people here are so friendly?’” said Ye Changqing, who’s heading the delegation. “Muscatine would be the best choice in Iowa, because you are so friendly.”
Fan Molin, who runs the province’s division of foreign capital and overseas investment, said he knows that Muscatine companies — he specifically mentioned Kent Corp., Stanley Consultants and Musco Lighting — can help with China’s food processing and safety, environmental protection and energy-saving needs.
The delegation spent its second day in Muscatine touring facilities and talking to businesses and educators after enjoying some “dumpling diplomacy” Wednesday evening at the home of Roger and Sarah Lande.
Hebei Province produces one-fourth of China’s steel, Fan said, and “we need technology to control carbon dioxide and other pollutants and to save energy, too,” he said. “We are Number 2 in cement production in Asia, and we need environmental protection for this industry.”
“You have all heard about the huge problem of smog in Beijing,” he said, and Hebei Province firms — with help from visits by U.S. Energy Secretary Dr. Steven Chu and North Carolina-based Duke Energy — are working toward renewable solutions to help reduce the problem.
On Thursday morning, the delegation toured Kent Corp.’s headquarters. Ye said he was impressed with the company’s core values of honesty and finding win/win solutions.
“We’ve had a food safety problem in China for some time, and safe food has become an important focus for the Chinese government,” Fan said. “I was very impressed with (Kent Corp.’s) food-processing technique, of pulling safe ingredients out of corn. That technology will be very interesting for the Chinese.”
As China expands its technology base, it plans to move its more low-tech companies abroad, to Vietnam and other South-east Asian countries, Fan said.
He said Chinese officials are also interested in such Iowa staples as raising hogs. “We want to improve the quality of our meat in Hebei Province, and we know Iowa is very advanced in techniques in husbandry and meat production.”
He extended a welcome to anyone who wants to visit. “I personally will accompany you to visit Hebei businesses, and I guarantee you will be impressed,” he said.
After the meeting in which possible educational exchanges were also discussed, First National Bank President and CEO Scott Ingstad said he still finds it amazing that a town in the Midwest has “created a relationship with the leader of the largest country in the world.”
He said he expects good things to come from the deepening friendship.
“They’re interested in the things that we’re good at,” he said. “We will go into it with eyes wide open. Everyone — farmers, businesses, everyone — will put on their green eyeshade and see what’s best for them
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