Wayne County Delegation On Trade Mission To China

Southfield (WWJ)  -- It's off to China Saturday for a 20-member delegation of business and political leaders from Southeast Michigan looking to bring back jobs and additional investment to our region.

Leading the group is Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, the 5th time he has led a trade mission to the region.

Speaking live on WWJ Saturday morning, Ficano said previous trips have already delivered results.  Some 40 Chinese-owned businesses, many in the automotive sector, have already set up shop in the area.

"The pattern is usually the same, they'll open up a small office and then they go usually to a R and D (research and development) center and then they get into some smarter light manufacturing," Ficano said.  "They'll come in and either buy a company or they'll start their own company and stay here and manufacture here because...it's cheaper for them to operate from here."

Listen to the interview. 

Michigan House speaker Andy Dillon is among the delegation, according to Ficano.

Expecting to travel to several cities in China over the next eight days, Ficano says he is optimistic that he and his team will have a "couple of new announcements" when they return.