A free County of San Diego-sponsored conference will spotlight what makes this region unique in the global marketplace and welcome investors and trade representatives from China and Taiwan.
The “Make It In America” conference is scheduled for Wednesday through Saturday at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido.
“San Diego is one of the most diverse communities in the country and what comes with that are the links our people have with countries they, their parents or grandparents came from,” said Rosalynn Carmen, president of the Asian Heritage Society, which is organizing the conference with major participants Alliant International University, CONNECT, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. and San Diego Gas & Electric Co.
To register for free admission go to makeitinamerica.net.
Barbara Bry of San Diego, recently named to the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, will meet with a Chinese delegation together with representatives of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles to gauge their potential interest in San Diego and how they may collaborate with leading business here. The delegation from China represent such diverse interests as Shanghai’s Chang Feng Business Center District Investment Corp., the World Chinese Entrepreneurs Association, CCOM-TV and the Beijing International Relationship Institution
Topics at the conference will range from starting a business, the benefits of relocating here from Asia, latest advances in technology, including nanotechnology, robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles and even video games. A discussion beginning 10:30 a.m. Thursday, led by San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Cindy Marten, will focus on how games are being used to teach language and even help tackle health problems. David Sarno, a former columnist for the Los Angeles Times, will demonstrate his digital interactive game “Lighthaus,” which is used to standardize surgical care for children.
“Business diversity is a key pillar of San Diego’s success and this year we mark an important milestone with the Make it in America Conference,” said San Diego County Supervisor Dave Roberts, host and chairman, adding that the “flagship event offers Asian American industry and business communities the chance to come together network, engage in business opportunities and to discuss ideas on how to effectively compete in the local and global marketplace.”
For 15 years, jobs and industries shave flowed the other way. However, according to U.S. Commerce Department data released this spring, foreign investment flowing into the U.S. rose from $260 billion in 2012 to $187.5 billion last year. “U.S.-owned companies that are expanding facilities, adding new facilities, or bringing back jobs from abroad invest hundreds of billions more dollars in the United States,” the report said.