Pact sets up business exchange

By Glenn Scott
Advertiser Staff Writer

Guangdong business leaders Li Fei Za and Dzng Xiang Jin visit a Hilo Hattie store while in Honolulu to meet with state tourism officials. A pact between Hawai'i and the Chinese province may bring such outlets to Guangdong. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

The memorandum of understanding was worked out in Honolulu over the past three days between leaders of an 18-member Guangdong delegation and officials with the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism.

Richard Bahar, the department's chief of investment and business analysis, said the agreement will serve as a blueprint for a series of training and vocational projects aimed at preparing the Chinese province, and its 70 million people, for an expected surge of foreign visitors as the country liberalizes its trade and investment policies.

He said the agreement provides direct benefits for Hawai'i by expanding paid programs in which Isle educators and other experts train business and tourism managers from the southern, coastal province in the tools of global business. The state already has launched a small training program for Guangdong business leaders through the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.

"When China joins the World Trade Organization," he said, "you're going to see a huge expansion in business travel."

He said visiting Guangdong officials discussed the need to build 200 hotels and to staff them with employees who can maintain a level of service meeting worldwide business standards. One part of the agreement, he added, is for Hawai'i to help Guangdong develop its own training systems.

Yesterday's agreement is meant to set the stage for a September visit to the province by a Hawai'i delegation led by Gov. Ben Cayetano. By then, Bahar said, both sides hope to have worked out details for an initial training program in tourism.

Said Bahar: "Things are going to start happening as soon as they get home."

The Chinese delegation included provincial deputy directors in tourism, foreign relations, trade, health and sports as well as leading executives of state-owned businesses. During the past three days, the visitors toured Honolulu businesses, hospitals and schools to explore vocational programs and possibilities for other exchanges.

They concluded yesterday with a half-day seminar at the East-West Center on building economic ties.