Published: October 26, 2009 09:00 pm      

Local products shown at China expo

Delegates from four local companies are in China this week to exhibit mine equipment at a trade show that begins today.

Mining Controls Inc. of Beckley, Philips Machine Service Inc. of Beckley, Lifepod International LLC of Midway, and ChemBio Shelter Inc. of Beaver sent representatives to the China Coal & Mining Expo 2009 in Beijing.

Philips, ChemBio Shelter, Lifepod and five additional West Virginia companies are being led by the West Virginia Development Office and will have a display panel in the WVDO booth and a corporate profile in English and Chinese, said Zacchi.

Mining Controls Inc. of Elgin National Industries and four more state companies are traveling with WVDO but presenting independent exhibits, WVDO spokeswoman Catherine Zacchi said Monday.

According to Zacchi, the Beijing exhibit is one of the largest coal-related exhibits in the world.

Held every other year, it attracts more than 300 exhibitors representing 17 countries.

“Building relationships is a crucial element of building business in much of the world,” said Secretary of Commerce Kelley Goes. “The Development Office organizes trade missions such as this because they are instrumental in enabling West Virginia businesses to form relationships with prospective customers, agents and representatives in the global market.”

The China Coal & Mining Expo is hosted by the China National Coal Association and China National Coal Group Corporation and is organized by Together Expo Limited and China Coal Consultant International.

Together Expo was formed in 1992 to bring foreign and Chinese businesses together through trade fairs in order to improve China’s technology base, drive GDP growth and raise living standards, according to the Web site.

“Participating in these trips helps West Virginia’s small and midsize companies to export their products,” said Goes. “Building their export business helps the companies grow, brings more dollars into the state and retains West Virginia jobs.”

The 2009 Expo ends Friday.

“In 2007, the mission to the China Coal & Mining Exhibition was led by Gov. Joe Manchin,” stated Goes. “Our return this year follows up his good work and continues to build on the relationships he began.”