The story below appears in today’s Charleston Gazette.

By Eric Eyre

An economic development group is hosting a return trade mission to China.

The Charleston Area Alliance, which sponsored a trip to China in April, held an informational meeting Tuesday about a second Chinese excursion — this one tentatively scheduled for April 2011.

“We’re going back because it was so successful,” said Matt Ballard, the Alliance’s CEO. “There was a lot of push to return. We already have people starting to sign up.”

Last spring, about 70 people took part in the Alliance-sponsored trip to China. The economic development organization offered two options: a business tour and cultural tour.

Those on the cultural tour visited Beijing and Shanghai, and sites such as the Forbidden City, Great Wall and Buddhist temples. The 20 people who took the business tour met with Chinese economic development specialists to learn about trade with China.

“These trade missions are all about creating more opportunities for West Virginia businesses,” Ballard said Tuesday. “It’s our policy to think very globally. It’s a global economy.”

He said several area business leaders who attended the trade mission last April already have returned to the country to “follow up on business leads.”

“It’s all about relationships,” Ballard said. “You want to build your credibility with Chinese companies. You have to lay the groundwork. It takes time.”

Ballard said the April trade mission hasn’t spawned any contracts between West Virginia and Chinese businesses. He said the trip is designed to help local companies increase exports to China.

“If a company has a widget, we want to help them find a buyer for their widgets,” Ballard said.

He said the Alliance would pay for two or three staff members to attend the trade mission. Ballard and several Alliance employees went on the April trip to China.

Others who decide to go to China must pay their own way. The price is $2,399 for Alliance members; $2,799 for future members; and an additional $450 charge for single occupancy.

The prices include round-trip air fare from New York, flights from Beijing to Shanghai and other cities, three meals day, and four- and five-star hotel accommodations.

A promotional brochure also promises “exclusive meetings with high-ranking [Chinese] government officials and business leaders.”

China is the eighth-largest market for West Virginia products and the third largest for U.S. products. Last year, West Virginia businesses exported more than $250 million in goods and materials to China.

Ballard said those who sign up for the business tour would meet with representatives of the U.S. Department of Commerce and Commercial Services of American Consulate in China.

“The whole idea is to help U.S. businesses to expand,” Ballard said. “Bottom line is job creation and increasing the tax base. It’s what our government partners and our business partners expect us to do.”

A nonrefundable $300 deposit will secure a spot on the trade mission. The deadline for full payment is Dec. 15. For more information, contact the Alliance at 304-340-4253 or JAdkins@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org.