The Port of Oakland is Open for Business

On October 22, the Bay Area Council and the Jiangsu Department of Commerce co-hosted a semi-virtual trade seminar to introduce China’s global logistics companies to the Port of Oakland. As the pandemic-strained economy sputters in the United States, the Bay Area will need to leverage international trade and global markets in the road to recovery. Last year, California exported $16 billion worth of goods to China, making it the third largest export market for the region. Last Thursday’s event was focused on not only growing that trade volume but bringing more of it through the Bay Area’s flagship port.

Max Oltersdorf, Deputy Director of International Affairs and Trade at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, and Jin Sun, Deputy Director General of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Commerce, opened the event by stressing the importance of increasing trade between the two states. Port of Oakland Executive Director and Bay Area Council Executive Committee Danny Wan and port Director of Maritime Bryan Brandes provided an overview of the Port of Oakland and recent investments that have made it a more reliable and convenient channel to access markets throughout the United States. During the discussion, Sinotrans (one of China’s largest logistics companies) resolved to explore the establishment of an express route to the Port of Oakland.