NEWS from the
TOWNSHIP OF IRVINGTON
"It is the goal of this administration to investigate and implement any initiative that will improve life in Irvington, and to do so with all due care, commitment and concern."
MAYOR WAYNE SMITH
April 30, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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MAYOR CREATES
INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Members pursue business opportunities on trip to China
Citing Irvington's strategic location as a lure for foreign investment, Mayor Wayne Smith presided at an April 4 swearing-in ceremony of the 8 officers and commissioners of the newly-formed Irvington International Trade Commission.
It will be "entrusted with the promotion of trade, business opportunities and industry between Irvington Township and foreign companies. It will support the internationalization of Irvington firms and the consolidation of those firms in foreign markets," according to the executive order issued by the mayor.
Speaking before the crowd of about 100 local and foreign businessmen-primarily from China -Smith said, "We're next to Newark . We are next to a great transportation corridor. We are positioned geographically in the right place," alluding to the township's locale in the heart of a system that includes state highways and an international airport.
The officers of the trade commission are:
Dr. Zal Velez, chairman; educator
Ibrahim A. Sharif, executive director; businessman; member of the state parole board
Tyrone Smith, deputy director
The commissioners of the trade commission are:
Balozi Harvey, director, Essex County Economic Development Corp.
D. Bilal Beasley, Irvington council member, Essex County Freeholder
Allen Barnhardt, businessman
Michael Leung, president, American-Asian Amity Association; businessman
Wayne Bradley, Irvington business administrator
Smith said the commission will initially establish relations with China, Africa and the Caribbean. Commission members and township officials have been meeting with Chinese businessmen in NYC, leading to the commission's first international trip-a 10-day trade mission to GuangXi, China, which began on April 21. The delegation is looking at a theme park and a university, the latter of which may spawn a student exchange program, Smith said.
The commission will not be operated with municipal funds. "We are going to raise our own money," Smith said. "We will look for federal funds and state sources, and we are talking to foundations," he added.
Irvington has a sister relationship with cities in Nigeria, and the mayor has previously hosted visits to Town Hall by officials from that nation, Taiwan, Senegal and Ghana .
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