By Kirk Johannesen, The Republic
johannesen@therepublic.com
A visit to Columbus by a delegation of Chinese government officials has opened the door for future cooperation and business opportunities involving hybrid and electric energy technology, city officials said.
Tang Liangzhi, chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Xiangfan, the equivalent of a city's mayor, led a 13-person group that met Thursday with Mayor Fred Armstrong, Economic Development Board leaders and local companies, including Cummins Inc.
The delegation's visit followed up on a 2007 visit to Xiangfan by Indiana mayors and EDB President Corey Carr. "We not only are trying to expand business with old partners like Cummins, but we would like to build more foundations with Columbus' local companies," Liangzhi, visiting Columbus for the first time, said through an interpreter.
Cummins has a joint venture with Dongfeng Automobile Co. to build engines in a plant in Xiangfan.
Although Xiangfan is a city of 6 million people, it is similar to Columbus, Liangzhi said, because of the importance of the automotive industry.
A video shown by the delegation noted that 50 percent of all industry revenue in Xiangfan comes from the automotive industry.
Carr invited companies CyberMetrix, Woodward, which purchased MotoTron Corp. last year, and Anderson-based Bright Automotive to attend an afternoon meeting with the delegation, because of Xiangfan's interest in hybrid and electric energy for vehicles.
MotoTron supplies parts to Bright Automotive, which is building hybrid fleet vans that use battery power. Cyber-Metrix makes test systems for companies worldwide.
"This was very good. My role was to facilitate some opportunities for local companies," Carr said.
If the meeting adds value to the companies it helps Columbus, he said.
Liangzhi said the goal is to use alternative energy to power 500,000 vehicles in Xiangfan by 2012.
"The economy is growing so fast, and the demand for these vehicles is huge," Liangzhi said.