Chambers are a global bridge for opportunity

As published in the Culpeper Star Exponent March 28, 2011

As you read in my column last week, you will know that I recently returned from a trip to China. It is hard to believe that a week has flown by since being in one of the fastest growing economies on earth. I was struck by one comment by the First Secretary, U.S. Commercial Service, Embassy of the United States to our group. He gave a presentation of his view of China and emerging opportunities. As I referred to his slide presentation references, his source was largely the AmCham Shanghai 2010-2011 China Business Report.

The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) was apparently a significant resource for the US Embassy in developing an understanding of doing business in China. The presentation concluded with a Q & A period. The room of hands raised as questions were asked and answered. I waited until the questions by others were completed. I raised my hand and asked “What relevance do the Chambers of Commerce have in doing business in China”?

The response was both surprising and very interesting. “Chambers of Commerce are critical to doing business in China. If you are going to do business here, they are an essential part of your plan.” He went on to say that you do not want to go it alone. The market respects your connections and your network. The Chambers of Commerce are aware of the business environment and can provide substantial guidance in developing opportunity in China.
I was further impressed that we were greeted at every venue with signage welcoming our group, the American Chambers of Commerce, including restaurants, business meetings, business locations, and even at the China version of Cirque du Soleil show that we were treated to on the last day of the trip.

I met a group of Darden School Students at the Show that were visiting China as part of their studies on spring break. They were glad to see someone from the “Virginia Piedmont”. Their itinerary had them visiting a Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai the following day.

During the presentation from the Vice Mayor of Hangzhou, We were welcomed in the warmest terms. Her description of the Chambers of Commerce was that Chambers of Commerce (in the US) are a “bridge to business opportunity”.

As I reflect on the generosity and warmth shown our group of approximately 50 Chamber of Commerce Executives, I understand better that the brand that we as Chambers in the US are associated with is valuable. We work in our communities everyday to help set the table for economic prosperity. We are sometimes unaware of the true value of the work that we do.

From the outside looking in, we are very important as economic gardeners within our communities. In addition, we are a global bridge for opportunity. Investment in your Chamber of Commerce is clearly good for business.

Business Monday : China

China - Business Monday 

As published in the Culpeper Star Exponent March 21, 2011

I am writing this on Friday March 18th, my sixth day in China, and by now I have arrived back in the US.  I have been touring with the American Chamber of Commerce Executives on a trip that packed what seems like 12 days of itinerary into a 9 day trip.  We toured 4 major cites, taking in some of the main tourist sites while meeting business and government officials along the way. 
We landed in Beijing Sunday night, then to dinner for our first authentic Chinese food experience, and then to the hotel. The tour included some of the finest hotels in China.
 Our first morning in China was greeted by a US Embassy official to brief us on the Chinese economy. This was great way to prepare us for what we would see in the following days. His presentation was titled "Where we are and where we are going" and included statistical discussions of "the good,, the bad, and the ugly". 
While in Beijing, we visited The Forbidden City, Tianaman Square, and the Great Wall. In addition we visited a few business locations for products that were unique to China. My favorite was the Great Wall. I was able to climb a rather tall section of the wall. We were given 2 hours at the site. I was able to climb approximately 2000 stairs in the first 45 minutes. The sight was remarkable from the top. The great wall lining up and down the adjacent mountains told a story of China that is worth the trip. There were easier sections to climb. This one happened to be an hour west the center of Beijing. 

After two days in Beijing we went onto the Art and Cultural center of Southern China, Souzhou which means Silk Place and known for its historic silk industry. We arrived in Souzhou by way of a flight to Shanghai. Beginning in June, there will be a high speed rail option connecting Beijing to Shanghai in 4 hours, the same amount of time it takes to check into the airport and fly two hours. The silk factory tour was especially interesting in Souzhou. 

We made our way from Souzhou to Hangzhou the following day. Our evening in Hangzhou included an elaborate dinner with the Vice Mayor of Hangzhou and a large team of Economic Development Professionals. Our group included over 50 Chamber of Commerce Executives from around the US. They treated us with what felt like a state dinner and presentation. I was especially pleased when one of the ranking government economic development officials said that "Virginia is highly regarded in Hangzhou". This was the business highlight of this trip, Hangzhou is city of approximately 7 million people. Their economic development team is the best that I have ever seen in action. 

I will be reporting more in subsequent articles. Seeing China in a rapidly developing stage is remarkable.  

China Friday

China Friday
Up at 5:30 am. Packed to leave Hangzhou today. 50 lengths in the 7th floor pool. Another great pool with plenty of length to get in a nice early morning swim followed by a few sets in the weight room to release the back and shoulders from the bus travel confines. All set and down to breakfast. Another great western breakfast. Actually, breakfast could have doubled for lunch as there were Quasi lunch items among the buffet choices. Our proximity to Southern Tropical China again provided and excellent choice of melon and fruit. 

We loaded up and left the hotel at 8:30 headed for the West Lake area. My camera memory card of 8 GB was finally full and I bought another 2 GB at the first stop. We arrived at the Buddhist Temple and had only a 1/2 hour to freely observe the activities. There were many who practice Buddhism here, purchasing incense to observe Buddhism rituals. There was a lot of smoke. We were told not to take pictures Inside of the temples out of respect. We were allowed to take pics from outside. 
This place had a special peace about it. It was especially remarkable considing the number of people that were visiting. The buddha figures were 40-50 feet tall. The intricate Backdrops were remarkably ornate. 
We left the temple for the tea fields of Dragon Well tea plantation. Dr. "T" (related to mr. T presumably) edutained us regarding green tea. He demonstrated green tea's antioxidant capabilities using white rice, he poured iodine (an oxidizer) into the rice turning it black and thus oxidizing it AKA showing toxins. He then added plain water to show that water alone does nothing to combat toxins. He then showed that green tea when poured into the blackened rice water converted it back to a nearly clear water and whitened the rice. His presentation wove American expressions thru the presentation while spoken in ChinEnglish. A polished crafted and persuasive event ,leaving no question that everyone would naturally want to buy the $200 Pound of Dragon Well Best quality green tea. At least 10 did. I wish that my camera had enough memory to video capture this. It would be a classic sales training tool. 
We went on to lunch (more Chinese) I could only eat white rice and coca cola today. It paid off. I felt good after lunch. We then went for a boat tour of West Lake. It was very busy with tour boats. Surprisingly, as caucasion travelers we were in the extreme minority. Most tourists were Chinese. The lake is smaller that I expected, only about 4 square miles. It reminded me of the Finger Lakes in NY with small mountains running to the edge of the water. The city of Hangzhou boarders the lake giving one end a very commercial feel, set in among pagodas, mountains, and a budding tree lined walk way. 

Finally we are back on the road toward Shanghai for 2 nites. The trip is 4-5 hour bus ride. We arrived at Shanghai at 6:3o and checked in and in the rom by 7pm. The lobby of the hotel is on the 25th floor. The hotel itself has over 40 floors. Mine is on the 30th floor. There is a Starbucks on the diagonal corner from the hotel. The intersection reminds me of times square. Shanghai is over 6000 square kilometers with a population of around 18 million people. 

Thursday, China

Follow the Culpeper Business Blog as President, Jim Charapich visits China March 17-21. This unique opportunity was made availalbe through ACCE American Chamber of Commerce Executives.  He will be visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou.  Reporting to us via this blog as he meets and hears from some U.S. executives and Chinese authorities about doing business with China. 

Finally a good nights sleep.the guide said that we do a 12 day itinerary in 9 days. I believe it. Breakfast at 7 and back up to the room to take advantage of the broadband that I bought. The best broadband wireless so far -$12 / day. Used skype to call home with my phone on airline mode and Skyped thru the wireless internet mobile app. Free international calls. Nice!!.
The bus that we used yesterday did not quite have enough space for the luggage. China solution... Larger bus today. Large is good in city traffic with bikes and mopeds everywhere? Seems a bit like New York city traffic. I would not want to rent a car and go it alone. The tour and guide are a necessity, especially for the novice China traveler.

First stop today Souzhou Lingering Gardens. An arts and cultural center of commerce in China. The Chinese place a high value on stone art. This garden had a combination of large stones, ponds, trees, and blooming trees. It is early spring in Souzhou. The trees are just beginning to flower. The garden maze concluded with a bonsai tree garden.

Next we traveled to the silk factory / outlet. There is a demonstration of removing the silk from the cocoon.We were shown the stages of the silk process. Later we were able to buy various 100% silk products. We had lunch at the silk outlet, buffet this tim, no lazy susan.

Trying to ask for information about things that I see to locals. They smile and look at me and then just look down.... No more discussion... Funny. I occasionally find a group laughing at me for taking pictures of everything. I saw a large jar full of liquid with a snake in it. Rather well preserved. There were other large jars with things in it that were preserved. I could not tell what they were.. This was at the entrance to the restaurant. I took pictures.

Back onto the bus and onto Hangzhou the next town. Were are to meet the Vice Mayor of Hangzhou at dinner tonight.

General thoughts of this trip. First, this trip is a demystification. Sometime we fear what we do not know. I can say that my experience in China has been excellent so far. Again this is largely due to the tour company. I get the impression that they know the right people to give us favorable access to places

Tonite we went to dinner at the world trade center on Hangzhou. We had dinner with several dignitaries involved in economic development. It is obviously very important to have a Chamber of Commerce. The Vice Mayor attended the meeting and spoke to us about the economic development opportunities in Hangzhou.

The presentation could not have been more impressive. They entertained approximately 50 of us and are very interested in the Chambers of Commerce and their role in "bridging opportunity" for business development. I was selected to sit at the head table with the dignitaries. It was a true experience. Much like a state dinner must be at the White House. Perfectly tended too with a menu that was the best so far. I love Hangzhou.

China Wednesday

Follow the Culpeper Business Blog as President, Jim Charapich visits China March 17-21. This unique opportunity was made availalbe through ACCE American Chamber of Commerce Executives.  He will be visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou.  Reporting to us via this blog as he meets and hears from some U.S. executives and Chinese authorities about doing business with China. 

On the Air China flight ready for  flight to Shanghai, 4:15 AM wake up call.  Next to a young lady who speaks a little English. The airport was amazingly quiet. Great acoustics. Very peaceful. Plus everything is new and clean.  Micheal Jackson wannabe in the airport. Western influence, most Chinese in the airport dress in western style with a Chinese flair. Businessmen dress in well tailored suits.  Discussion about radiation in Japan affecting Shanghai. Hope prevailing winds are not to the west. Shanghai airport new since they hosted the world expo in 2010

China Tuesday

China Tuesday - 
Up early with a 1000 meter swim. I tried to take a picture of the amazing pool and was told that pictures were not allowed of the pool? I assume that is to prevent photos of people in the pool and not the pool itself. I was the first one there. Two others began to swim in other lanes. I found myself in a bit of a competition with the swimmer next to me. He was clearly pacing me until he gave up. He rested a few laps and then sprinted out in front of me...people are funny. I steadily caught up with him eventually, as he exited from the pool while I continued.... A quiet victory for the day.
A lot of sitting on the bus has my hamstrings tight.  Jumped into the hot tub for a quick stretch. Then into the ice ice ice cold whirl pool next to the hot tub. A hot cold stretch three times helped. Signed out of the fitness facility grabbed a few of the crisp apples at the counter and up to shower. 
I want to get to breakfast this morning. A mix of western appeal and china surprise. 7 - 7:30 plenty of time for a full breakfast.  Prompt departure for the Jade outlet and tour. We were educated on the value of jade. A new appreciation for the stone. More importantly the art work involved in engraving the jade. We later had a chance to buy any price range of jade and art work. Tis facility had 4 wings. They separated sales of groups by nationality. Upstairs were the Asia's & Middle Eastern clients. Western clients were downstairs. Not sure if the prices were different. 
Onto the Great wall. 

Monday in China

Follow the Culpeper Business Blog as President, Jim Charapich visits China March 17-21. This unique opportunity was made availalbe through ACCE American Chamber of Commerce Executives.  He will be visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou.  Reporting to us via this blog as he meets and hears from some U.S. executives and Chinese authorities about doing business with China. 

Up early swim in the 20 meter Turquoise blue tile pool.  1500 meters then Breakfast at 7  and meeting at 7:30. No time to waste, China is up an running early. Breakfast was as good as it gets. Asian fruit and vegetable, fresh juice bar, omletes, fresh breads, lots of melon and fruits. Coffee and ready to go.

Briefing with the First Secretary, U.S.Commercial Service, Embassy of the United States. Where we are? Where we are going? Were just a few of his slide titles, sounds like the State of the Chamber..... I have requested the full slide presentation to make available on the Chamber website. He talked about the good, the bad, and the ugly... His words.... The U.S. is the fastest growing exporter to China with exports at $91 B. There are 457 M Internet users in China with 395 M mobile users. Now I know what the young man that I met on the flight meant when he said that the Internet was were there is opportunity in China.

So some of the Bad... Inflation according the The Chinese Government is 5%, A TV news report that evening suggested that the Government recognized inflation as a concern for sustained economic growth. The U.S. Embassy First Secretary cited another report that estimated inflation at 9%. Disposable income has increased for the past few years and is projected to continue to increase. There is a big difference between rural and urban incomes. There are other areas of challenge in this fast paced growth. Health care is a big issue with 200 M uninsured. Education has it's bright spots. However, there are limitations in the educational system at both the primary, Secondary, and university levels that the were pointed out. The US system with it flaws is relatively good.

The ugly....Environmental controls /implementation, energy security, and intellectual Property rights were mentioned as big issues. Like any business environment there are risks and rewards. An interesting comment was the if you are going to do business in China do it as a part of a group. It is not wise to try to go it alone. The American Chambers of Commerce in each were cited as excellent and necessary resources.... Good to know that the Chambers of Commerce are relevant everywhere. There are additional resources for exploring business importing & exporting to China at www.buys.gov/china.

The day continued with a trip to Tiananman Square, the Forbidden City, and a few other sites in the morning. We were treated to lunch at the home of a local family for real Chinese home cooking. This was a real treat. The food was excellent but the character of those arranging the meal was unforgettable. The charm and humor are The thing that I will always remember. We were treated to a bit of an impromptu educational performance about the real people in the heart of Beijing. A young lady named (Americanized) Merry left us laughing with an appreciation for Beijing Hospitality.

We then visited the outlet for the largest pearl factory in China. I love a quality presentation with the  art of sales. "I am the Man" we were told as we were educated on the differed qualities of Pearls. Our instructor looked at the faces of several if the ladies and suggested complimentary colors of pearls to accent their beauty. There was a distinct swoon among the ladies.... He had them.... I may need to practice my ChinEnglish"?

The outlet is one of the finest run retail (wholesale) operations that I have see. At least two dozen sharply trained experts ready to guide you thru your selection. There was no doubt that you were buying. With prices from below $100 to $56,000 and colors from luminescent white to anniversary gold made this a facinating experience.

We went onto dinner at the famous Chun Tu Da (phonetically spelled) for the traditional Peking Duck. A great experience. Actually, I think that duck must be the turkey of China. We had every variation of duck imaginable culminating in the grandest duck of them all Peking Duck.
Back to the hotel. It is now 1 AM Beijing time and 1 PM Culpeper time. My body is confused.

Flight to China

3-11 4:30 pm EST

On the flight - first impressions: Instructions were in Chinese followed by "ChinEnglish". Chinese action movie in Chinese. The times are confusing. Plus tomorrow is daylight savings time. The drinks containers were labeled in Chinese. It looks like every seat is taken. The Pepsi sure tastes good. We fly directly north over Montreal toward the arctic.
Weather Report: Cloud cover today, my window is looking west. Wondering what it will be like at midnight over the arctic.
Reading Rivals- study of Chinese, Japan, and India rivalry in Economic Development. It is 5:45 pm finally needed to walk around. I took a look at the upper level ubber first class $6500 ticket first class. Seemed very quiet and well attended, the seats looked comfortable. It has potential. Dinner arrriving at 6:00. Should I sleep or go for coffee? Landing at 6:30 pm Beijing time in 12 hours. Then dinner and sleep. Hmmmm ?   Gulf of Boothia. Traveling at 32,000 feet at 500 mph. 10pm - 7:20 hrs to go. 34,000ft. Over the North poll. Light out - chasing the sun. I see the Arctic Ocean 1:45 am bright outside. Looks like Siberia. Frozen white mountains. Frozen rivers. No sign of other airplanes. No visible roadways, frozen tundra. 4am still over frozen mountains.

6:45 pm. Beijing airport. The area around the airport has less light than US. Less roadways around Airport. 7pm going thru immigration. Glad to be on the ground. Spoke to couple who live in NY and use Taobao.com like eBay in China. Asked where the opportunity in China is? "the Internet". There is a Chinese Social Media site that is going public soon. No Facebook or twitter.
8 pm on the bus, Airport has HUGE capacity. Airport Built 3 yrs ago for the Olympics. Amazing scale . Chinese beer served on the bus - lid pops and cheers. I had bottled water... Welcome to China - Beijing is north - Capitol of China. The Airport is shaped like a dragon. China itself is shaped like rooster. Beijing is the throat of the rooster. Our tour guide - Bryan --"Everything I do, I do for you. " Signs on the highway Microsoft Caterpillar, Audi, Simmons... Sent from iPhone

Mid-Night over the Artic

Cloud cover has lifted, over Canada now. It looks frozen. 6:15 pm dinner. Smells like Chinese food Mmmm. Pics of sunset at 35,000 ft. Dinner beef rice carrots green beans- hot Fruit & salad + roll. Very good.
It’s 8:30pm 9 hrs to go. North east of the

Looks like a good day to fly!

Follow the Culpeper Business Blog as President, Jim Charapich visits China March 17-21. He will be visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou.  Reporting to us via this blog as he meets and hears from some U.S. executives and Chinese authorities about doing business with China.

Day 1 Travel:  Left Culpeper for Dulles at 6am.  Parked in economy lot and immediately caught bus to the terminal.  Thru Jetblue check-in in 5 minutes.  Thru security in 15 minutes.  Sitting at the gate for NY JFK at 7:30.  WOW A great start to the China experience.  I had budgeted 3 1/2 hours.  I am now charging my iPad and iPhone.  Called ATT twice to arrange international calls and data.  Now trying to figure out Skype international.  Basically looks for free WIFI / disable roaming data and use skype app to skype app to save.  Did not have time to explore Google voice. 

BUSINESS MONDAY: Now is the time to invest in Culpeper

Published March 7, 2011 in the
Culpeper Star Exponent

I am trying to disprove a theory about our Culpeper real estate market and local economy. So far I have not been convinced to step away from the theory.  A few years ago the National Builders drove buyers to Culpeper with their advertisements, stating that the values in Culpeper were the best. For example,  advertisements would show various projects beginning in Northern Virginia at $750,000 for a single family home, with homes in Prince William at $450,000, and Culpeper at the very attractive value of $250,000. Naturally buyers drove until they qualified and found the quality of life in Culpeper and the value of the homes a perfect fit. This, particularly given that Culpeper is within commuting distance to one of the richest world markets, Northern Virginia & Washington DC.

Today, the only change is that the National Builders are placing fewer ads in the major newspapers in Northern Virginia and thus driving fewer buyers to Culpeper.  Real estate in Culpeper is now at a value that may never be seen again. Yet our quality of life is among the best for those seeking a small town feel, beautiful views, and a wonderful sense of community.

The local amenities that we have are enviable. A vibrant revitalized Davis Street, home to restaurants with global recognition set among eclectic and unique shopping experiences. The Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Preservation offers rare and free movie viewing to the general public. There is a strong manufacturing base offering jobs at entry and professional levels. The Germanna’s Daniel Technology Center is a cornerstone in the community for workforce development. Our schools have unique programs such as E Squared – Entreprenurial Energy, delivering exceptional opportunities to our students. The list could go on and on.

I watched as Gainsville went from country to commercial. It happened quickly. The Wegmans along Route 29 near Warrenton is an indicator of the imminent growth toward Warrenton and eventually Culpeper. Fredericksburg now supports major development out as far as Route 20 & 3.  Charlottesville is moving north with military base realignments pushing development into nearby Green County. With real estate markets improving to the North, East, and South of Culpeper, interest rates at very low level, and an abundance of foreclosures, the investment opportunities may never be better for property in Culpeper. That is the good news…

From the perspective of the local economy, the sooner that the saturation of foreclosures are absorbed, the sooner real estate values will increase, offering support to the local governments’ need for revenue. Improved Real Estate values support local job creation by putting local home builders, subcontractors, and suppliers back to work. Certainly having new jobs in other sectors supports home sales enhancing the economic improvement formula further.

My theory is this…. If we as a community: Builders, Realtors, Lenders, Retailers, Restaurants, Professional Services Companies, etc. work together to deliver a message to Northern Virginia through our local media partners that NOW is the time to visit, experience, and invest in Culpeper, we can accelerate the needed improvement of our local economy sooner than later.

Jim Charapich, CEO/President
Culpeper County Chamber of Commerce

The State of the Chamber

Published February 28, 2011 in the
Culpeper Star Exponent

Every decision that we make in business is based on the understanding that we have at the moment. Knowing what we need to know is a constant process for good decisions. The Chamber of Commerce works with our community partners to keep our businesses informed on the issues. Sometimes we communicate issues via email by forwarding information that we receive. Other times we try to decipher the important issues and offer insight into them as they relate to business.

As business leaders it is important to find information from the best resources. There are few places that can offer local issue views with a business focus than thru the filter of the members of a broad based business organization. The information and views are constantly being tempered by the reality of the day. Networking at the business functions, casual conversation at a committee meeting, or straight forward informational programs are all transformative venues for your business.

We pause once a year to focus on the State of the Chamber to access where we are and where we are going. It is a moment in time to ask and listen, a moment to find new questions that give us the direction for our business to be successful. This reminds me of the famous analogy of the horse winning by a nose. The fraction of a nose is all it takes to be the winner and winner takes all…. Similarly in business it is often the smallest talent, information, or gesture that wins the contract or the sale.

On March 11th at the Country Club of Culpeper, the Chamber will host the State of the Chamber for the business community. Rather than recite our internal successes we have invited government, community, and business leaders to share their insights about their area of expertise as it relates to our local economy. We have also invite Senator Houck and Delegate Ed Scott this year to give us a brief post legislative update. The luncheon is one of the best venues to benchmark where we are as a local economy in order to make good decisions for your business.

The room has limited space and will sell out fast. If you are interested in joining us for this very dynamic opportunity to hear from local leaders, register for the event online at CulpeperChamber.com.  State of Our Chamber – State of Our Economy. 

Jim Charapich, CEO/President
Culpeper County Chamber of Commerce