An American Open Door? Reversing the Trend
VIEW EVENT DETAILSLuncheon Panel Discussion with: Bill Taylor, Former President & CEO, Mercedes-Benz U.S.; George Landegger, Chairman, Parsons & Whittemore; Linda Yang, Chair of International Committee & Senior Partner, Yingke Law Firm; Raymond Cheng, CEO, SoZo Group (Moderator)
China’s unprecedented economic development over the past decade has led to the emergence of a significant trend - China is now emerging as a leading investor around the world, including the U.S., through mergers, acquisitions, and greenfield investments. As a result, the U.S. is finding itself increasingly on the receiving end of capital flows from China, which surged from $1.2 billion in 2008 to $5.9 billion in 2010, and expected to increase to $1-2 trillion by 2020. How is the U.S. responding to this new reality and how can the U.S. maximize the benefits of this investment? What are the consequences for America’s economic future? How can the U.S. maintain the traction with existing investors and continue to attract new ones? What are the lessons that can be learned from Alabama, which landed the largest FDI project in the U.S. as well as over 300 international companies including Mercedes-Benz, Honda, and Hyundai?
PANELISTS
Bill Taylor was President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, a key figure in the start-up of its new plant in Alabama. He led a team of more than 3,000 people, and oversaw the plant’s expansion. Mr. Taylor became President of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama in 2009.
George Landegger is Chairman and CEO of Parsons & Whittemore, a private company that has built, owned and operated pulp mills, and has invested over $1.4 billion in Alabama. More recently, the firm designed and built the largest biodiesel plant in the U.S. South.
Linda Yang is the Chair of International Committee and Senior Partner at Yingke Law Firm.
Raymond Cheng set up SoZo Group in 2010, an investment advisory company. He has more than 30 years of global technology and entrepreneurial experience. During the last 15 years, Ray founded and led more than a dozen technology ventures around the globe. (Moderator)