KEDC takes Kilgore to China

Amanda Nobles, executive director of Kilgore Economic Development Corporation, talks Kilgore industry opportunities with an attorney representing several Chinese business people with an interest in Texas expansion while in Xiamen, China, at the 12th annual China International Fair on Investment and Trade. While on vacation in China, Amanda Nobles. Kilgore Economic Development Corporation executive director, detoured from her travel itinerary to stop in Xiamen — across the South China Sea from Taiwan — where thousands of business people were in attendance at the 12th annual China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT).

While in Xiamen, Nobles worked a Texas booth with James Chen, director of international development for Asia and the Pacific, from the Texas Governor's Office. Nobles and Chen distributed approximately 500 Texas industry pamphlets, brochures on Kilgore and Synergy Park — and Kilgore derrick pins.

While the two were not in the booth they were attending a seminar on Investment in America, hosted by the United States Department of Commerce, where they taught a session on making the move from China to the United States — specifically Texas. The also attended an industry match-making session in which business people moved from one table to another for a speedy meet and greet before hitting the floor of the massive convention center.

"Nothing may come of all of this but good will," Nobles said. But Texas and Kilgore were represented. Our name is out there."

Nobles has receive a few emails since her return from China. Those coming in Chinese are sent the Chen for translation.

Nobles said Chinese companies are more and more able to make the international move and that international companies are a good target for Kilgore.

Nobles said she suspects the Foreign Trade Zone at Synergy Park may be approved this fall and said that the addition would be an excellent tool to market to international companies.