Vietnam Delegation to Tour Columbiana County Sites
LEETONIA, Ohio – The Columbiana County Port Authority, in collaboration with other agencies, will host a tour and luncheon Sept. 30 for members of a Vietnam delegation representing various industries looking at exporting to Ohio.
The port authority’s board of directors learned of the pending visit at Monday’s regular meeting at the Global Investment Hub.
Penny Traina, executive director of the port authority, and county Commissioner Mike Halleck went on a trade mission to Bangkok, Thailand, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in March 2019. Traina introduced to the board Mousa Kassis, director of the Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network and Ohio Export Internship Program at Youngstown State University, who she said remained in close contact with the Ho Chi Minh City Chamber of Commerce following the trade mission.
The chamber was planning a mission trip to Texas, and Kassis “talked them into coming to the Youngstown area,” Traina said.
Kassis said the trip taken to Vietnam “is reaping benefits now.”
He said when he learned about the chamber’s plans to go to Texas, “I asked them, ‘Why don’t you swing by Ohio?’ and they said, ‘Maybe. If you have an incentive package, maybe we will.'”
After he put together an incentive package, a trip to Ohio was planned. The delegation was originally scheduled to arrive in the area Oct. 1.
In 2019, trade between the United States and Vietnam reached about $65 billion, with Ohio accounting for about $2 billion. By 2023, trade rose to $126 billion for the U.S. and $4.7 billion for Ohio.
According to Traina, the Vietnamese delegation represents various industries looking at exporting to Ohio, such as plastics, food and beverages, health care/beauty, natural rubber and others. Those interested in importing from Ohio are in the construction/machinery, wastewater treatment equipment, food and beverages, plastics and other industries.
“In 2019 when Mr. Halleck and I toured their country, I don’t think we could ever foresee we could come back and build a global investment hub, be marketing to them to move to the hub or host them here at the Columbiana County Global Investment Hub,” Traina said.
The tour will take them to the Wellsville Intermodal Facility and the Global Investment Hub, where lunch and a program will be provided.
“While we were [in Vietnam], they took us to their ports. It will be interesting to hear their thoughts on how Americans do it,” Traina said. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. We’re very much looking forward to it, to show off our assets.”
Others partnering in the trade mission are Youngstown State University, the Ohio SBDC Assistance Network at YSU, Williamson College of Business Administration, Ohio SBDC Export Assistant Network, Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, Lake to River Economic Development and Rickenbacker International Airport.
In addition to board members and county commissioners, other local and state officials have been invited to attend the tour and luncheon.
Pictured at top: Mousa Kassis, right, speaks to the Columbiana County Port Authority Board of Directors on Monday.
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