Chinese to train in Hawai'i

Associated Press

Starting in February, groups of up to 30 professionals in government, business, agriculture and environmental protection in Western China will be coming to Hawai'i for advanced technical training in their fields.

It's part of a memorandum of understanding signed this week in China between Gov. Ben Caye-

tano and Chairwoman Annie Wu of the Hong Kong-based World Trade Centers Association, Hawai'i's Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism announced yesterday.

"Hawai'i is becoming a major training center for China," said department deputy director Sharon Narimatsu, who is leading the "Aloha China!" business development mission. "This agreement promises to have a great deal of potential for Ha-

wai'i since the Chinese government is committed to developing human resources of the Western Region."

Professionals from China's 56 ethnic groups are being recruited for the training that will take place in China and Hawai'i. The costs will be covered by the World Trade Centers Association.

"They're coming here for top-notch training in very specific fields," said Mark Want, a department spokesman. The training programs are being developed at a variety of higher education institutions, including the University of Hawai'i and Hawaii Pacific University, he said.

The groups will visit Hawai'i for up to a month of classroom study, off-campus visits and briefings and chances to meet local business leaders, the department said.

Meanwhile, the University of Hawai'i announced yesterday it has a new agreement with Shanghai University of Finance and Economics to cooperate in the areas of business administration, finance, accounting, information technology management and related fields.

"We expect that the research, education and training exchanges between Shanghai University of Finance and Economics and our college will significantly contribute to our programs," said David McClain, dean of the UH College of Business Administration.