Librers and city staff will meet with Chinese venture capitalist
By Marilyn Librers
Marilyn Librers
The solid potential of building a bridge of economic development and cultural discovery between Morgan Hill and the Chinese was one of several outcomes that came out of a 14-day, four-city tour of China I took last month with 10 other Silicon Valley mayors and vice-mayors. From the experience of my meeting personally with high-ranking Chinese government officials, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists during the trip, we built a foundation for a solid business partnership between Morgan Hill and Chinese business enterprises that can benefit our city in the near and long-term future.
My trip to China was sponsored with travel expenses paid by the China Silicon Valley Foundation and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. All the Silicon Valley dignitaries visited the industrial cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan and Shenzhen. We learned that the business people of China are definitely interested in developing a mutually-beneficial relationship with the people of Santa Clara County — and this includes Morgan Hill.
Among the many benefits from my trip is the fact I was able to bond with the 10 other mayors and vice-mayors of Silicon Valley. We will meet on a monthly basis as a group and reconnect to see where our efforts are going in building the bridge between China and Silicon Valley.
At numerous conferences and workshops in all four cities in China, we were given the opportunity to describe our various community strengths to the people we met on the trip. In their pitches, the other dignitaries talked about the various high-tech corporations based in their cities, such as Google, Apple and Intel. Instead of simply listing what companies are now based in Morgan Hill, I was able to tell the Chinese venture capitalists and entrepreneurs something I believe they found far more valuable as an incentive to coming to Silicon Valley. In introducing them to our South Valley community, I told them: “Morgan Hill is on the southern tip of Silicon Valley just 20 minutes from the San Jose International Airport. Morgan Hill has the largest business park acreage-wise in all of Santa Clara County. We have empty land to build and we have empty warehouse space.”
Photo courtesy Marilyn Librers
Morgan Hill Vice-Mayor Marilyn Librers (second from left) with other members who visited China and Chinese dignitaries at a round table seminar in the city of Wuhan.
I also told the Chinese business people I met about our agricultural heritage and how we are evolving our light-manufacturing industry, describing several of our electronics companies such as Anritsu. I also talked about the high quality of life we enjoy in Morgan Hill, including an enjoyable climate, outdoor recreational opportunities, and world-class wineries and restaurants. I provided the people I met with published material produced by the city of Morgan Hill detailing our recreational and cultural benefits as well as the businesses and demographic information about our community.
The Chinese I met seem sincerely interested in learning about Morgan Hill as a place to do business. They realize that our city has room to grow, and they’re looking to work with us to build on those growth opportunities. There is a potential from the seeds sown during this trip for Chinese businesses to invest in light-manufacturing as well as green business (such as solar energy) in Morgan Hill. During my trip, I found three leads for business opportunities. I communicated these leads to the city staff and they followed-up promptly.
Additionally I have another opportunity with a Chinese venture capitalist coming to Morgan Hill in the next couple of weeks to meet with me for a tour of our community as a guest of the city. I will take her to Morgan Hill restaurants, show her our rural landscape, and introduce her to leaders in the community including business executives in our chamber of commerce and downtown association. This venture capitalist is especially interested in property now coming up for sale in downtown Morgan Hill that was purchased years ago by the city through the now extinct Redevelopment Agency. I expressed to her that the city is interested in having a boutique hotel built in our downtown, which is something they have keen interest in as they have other hotels in Silicon Valley.
Another benefit that could come to Morgan Hill through my trip is the encouragement of more Chinese tourism to visit Morgan Hill. The South Valley region is building its reputation for the high quality of wine produced. California wines have grown into a status symbol for Chinese in recent years. If we can cater to this growing international market in culinary travel, we can enhance our reputation as a wine travel destination for foreign tourists.
I truly enjoyed my experience in China and came back with completely different thoughts on China as a nation. I hope to visit again and will be proud to represent our community if the opportunity comes my way.
Marilyn Librers is the vice-mayor of Morgan Hill. She wrote this for Morgan Hill Life.
