County Executive Thomas P. Gordon and Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams announced that a Chinese delegation will pay a visit to check out port and economic development options.
This meeting will represent the fourth exchange between County Executive Gordon and members of the group, Gordon stated. This relationship commenced with a county visit to China in September 2015.
Chinese businesses and government officials are set to visit Sept. 23 through Sept. 30.
The group includes China Gezhouba Group Company Limited, a Chinese construction and engineering company that according to a release is ranked 33rd in the world in revenue.
Click on link below for a copy of the letter from the company.
The announcement comes two days before Gordon and Willaims face tough re-election battles, with opponents questioning their economic development strategies.
In a Sept. 1, 2016 letter, China Gezhouba Group expressed its interest in the Port of Wilmington expansion project.
Additionally, the group will include representatives from:
- Shanghai Aoyol Network Technology
- GEYA investment Holding Group
- Aisen Import/Export
- Zhijiantang Cultural Exchange Co.
- Tangshan City Tian Xiang Science and Technology Co.
- China Communications Construction Company
- Chinese Ocean Shipping Company (China COSCO)
According to the release, Chinese Ocean Shipping Company is one of the world’s top five container shipping companies. The group has exchanged formal letters of interest with regard to providing a host of potential services in developing and possibly operating the port and related transportation infrastructure in the State of Delaware.
In addition to meeting with county officials, the group will also participate in planned sessions with the state officials, including state-operated Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC).
Gordon stated that the Chinese delegation’s September visit would follow up numerous meetings with representatives of this group regarding the Riveredge greenfield facility over the last several months. He stated that he looks forward with optimism to discussing all of the marine terminal sites identified inn the Diamond State Port Corporation’s Strategic Master Plan.
Until now,, Gordon had been mum on the identities of possible port developers. The state reported that it was exploring the purchase of the Chemours Edgemoor site on the Delaware River as a possible container port. The county has been pushing for an expansion of port facilities to the Riveredge area near New Castle. The current port is on the Christina River at its outlet with the Delaware River.
“The sites mentioned in the DSPC Strategic Master Plan include the existing DSPC facility, the conceptual Riveredge terminal, and the former Chemours site known as Edgemoor,” Gordon said. “In all, it simply boils down to the fact that Delaware is geographically blessed beyond comparison for maritime growth. Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams and I have been behind this project because of the thousands of jobs that would be created as a result of these initiatives.”
Williams stated: “I am pleased this Chinese delegation is coming to New Castle County to explore and research a variety of port development projects. Further development will create significant job opportunities for local residents. County Executive Gordon and I have been committed and will continue to be at the forefront of this effort.”
The master plan was completed and adopted by the DSPC in June 2016.
Longshoreman Local Union #1883 Business Agent Kimoko Harris stated that the visit of the Chinese delegation is “a direct product of NCCo’s and the City of Wilmington’s support of the port projects over the course of the last several months. Without New Castle County and Wilmington’s commitment to the funding of the port project, we wouldn’t be in the position of being able to meet with this formidable group.”
Among the other topics the Chinese delegation wishes to discuss are:
- Investment policies of Delaware as it relates to Chinese companies and helping Chinese officials
- Open an office to help the state attract 80 to 100 Chinese companies/enterprises in manufacturing, logistics, finance, securities trading and international business
- Labor conditions, financial services, warehouse, construction, infrastructure, regional logistics and other supporting services
- Summer and winter camp project for Chinese exchange students in Delaware
- Visit the Delaware Stock & Securities Exchange
- Shanghai Aoyol Network Technology Co.’s wish to register an IT company in the U.S.
