Margaret Wong Won the 2015 Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship “ACE” Entrepreneur Award
Author: californiacenter
On May 14th 2015, Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship presented Margaret Wong the 2015 “ACE” Entrepreneur Award during the 2015 ACE National Conference in Washington. This prestigious award is presented to outstanding business leaders like Ms. Margaret Wong who has built an exemplary business and are a role model for the Asian Americans and Pacific Islander business community.
Margaret Wong, President and CEO of California Center, McWong Environmental and Energy Group and McWong International, Inc., has been doing business with US and China for almost three decades. Margaret has been known as the “Business Empress” based on her success in linking multi-million dollar businesses between California and China, and at the same time serving as “unofficial ambassador” to China in her quest to promote better business cultural understanding between US and China. Thanks to her dedicated hard work and contribution to linking businesses between U.S. and China, Margaret Wong has won numerous other awards, including the 2012 U.S. Presidential “E” Award for Excellence in Exporting and the 2011 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) “Exporter of the Year”.
MAY 15TH, 2015
SACRAMENTO, CA – A special committee of community leaders, led by Celebration Co-hosts C.C. Yin Founder of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA) and Margaret Wong, President/CEO of the California Center, has been formed to commemorate the 150th Anniversary Celebration Commemorating Chinese Building of the U.S. Transcontinental Railroad. The Opening Gala Celebration was held on Friday, May 15th, 2015 at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California to honor the thousands of Chinese immigrants who helped build our nation’s first transcontinental railroad and as a result helped to shape our nation’s history.
Hosts and Sponsors of The CelebrationC.C. Yin (L) – Founder of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA) ; Margaret Wong ( R) – President/CEO of the California CenterPhotos courtesy of John ObackPhotos courtesy of John ObackPhotos courtesy of John Oback More photos can be found at APAPA Facebook Page: Link
Between 1865 and 1869, thousands of Chinese immigrant laborers toiled at a grueling pace and in perilous working conditions to help construct the world’s very first transcontinental railroad. Without Chinese workers, it would have been impossible to complete this historic expansion effort that played a major role in building America. The Chinese laborers worked through natural disasters, wars, and a changing transportation industry, but never received the full attention and credit that they deserved – until now!
“It is an honor to work with so many of our state’s community leaders to finally pay a proper tribute to the countless Chinese workers, many of whom gave their lives, to help build the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S. – forever changing the shape of progress and industry in our great nation,” said C.C. Yin, Founder of APAPA and Co-host.
A significant part of the celebration included the promotion and release of a documentary film which details the story of Chinese immigrants and their involvement in the building of the railroads. Over the last 10 years, the special documentary film crew for “The Silent Spike,” by Shandong TV & Media Group has been to America dozens of times. They visited numerous historical sites and museums along the pacific railroad to gather information on the Chinese workers. They visited the University of California, Berkeley; Stanford University, University of Reno, the Chinese Historical Society of America and other relevant agencies doing research. The group also interviewed more than 70 experts in history, business, political officials, the descendants of laborers, as well as several small historical town residents. They collected volumes of important historic information about the Chinese railroad workers and plan to share that wealth of gathered history, to help celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the workers during this series of special events.
During the Opening Gala, Professor Xuejun Yang from Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts exhibited his Sculpture The Trailblazer, one of a series sculptures he has been working on since 2010 to commemorate the great contributions Chinese immigrants made to build the U.S. railroad. More information about Professor Yang can be found at http://yangxuejun.artron.net/ .
Sculpture The Trailblazer by Professor Xuejun Yang was exhibited at he Opening Gala.Professor Xuejun Yang discussed about the stores why he created the sculpture.
April 20th, 2015 – Guest blog post by Margaret Wong, President and CEO of California Center (Golden California Inc.) and McWong Environmental Technology
Californai Center and McWong Environmental Technology President & CEO Margaret Wong joins Commerce Secretary Pritzker, Ambassador Baucus, Deputy Energy Secretary Sherwood-Randall and other officials on 24-American company delegation to China
As a participant of a special 24-American company delegation to China, led by U.S.Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, I came prepared to share with U.S. and China leaders about the latest in U.S. capabilities and the business opportunities for U.S. environmental and energy efficient technology and services to be utilized in China. In particular those technologies related to clean water, smart cities and the latest wastewater treatment techniques – with a highlight on unique solutions we use to treat specific contents of wastewater, by using mainly membrane and thermal technology in the zero liquid discharge processes. Thanks to U.S. leadership like that of Secretary Pritzker and Deputy Secretary Dr. Sherwood-Randall, there has been a very positive top-down approach to help build public-private partnership allowing businesses like ours to create bottom-up solutions that have been warmly received. Not only have I found a warm welcome by the numerous leaders we have met with along the way, but I have found a common thread that speaks to the larger picture, which is the deep interest to create better and improved methods for smart and sustainable growth in China.
A lot has been made about recent reports indicating a slow-down in China’s economy, noting a reduction from 10 percent annual average GDP gains from 1980 to 2012 to the latest numbers Wednesday, indicating that China’s first-quarter gross domestic product grew 7 percent, the slowest pace since the 2009 global recession. However, very little is being discussed about what I call “China’s long-term play,” to turn China’s economy into a more sustainable one. A recent Bloomberg article also illustrates this point by noting that at the same time that many are noting a reduction in GDP gains, they are failing to point out the “scent of fast money hovering over Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, where stock markets are enjoying explosive rallies. The Shanghai Composite Index is up 94 percent over the last 12 months and some $4 trillion has been added to the total market value — now $7.3 trillion — of companies listed on domestic exchanges over the past year.”
The article goes on to point out that the services sector for the first time accounted for more than half, at 51.6 percent, of GDP in the first quarter and that consumption growth was also solid. These factors cannot be ignored. It is clear from our meetings with key government representatives, that China is focused on creating new and innovative solutions to not only sustain economic goals but also to improve living conditions and build more environmentally sound/efficient long-term investments into their cities. The U.S. has a unique opportunity to step up in these areas and assist China in meeting these admirable goals.
However, such investment in creating sound and sustainable growth will not come without some growing pains. My personal experiences and discussions during this trade mission lend credence to the notion that China is committed to the long haul. McWong Environmental Technology will do all it can to create sound clean energy solutions to assist in those efforts, to improve the overall quality of life in China – which in turn has global benefits for us all in terms of economic stability and improved health!
April 13th, 2015
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with a U.S. presidential trade mission in Beijing on April 13, 2015 , urging stronger cooperation with the United States in clean energy, environmental protection and other areas.
US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker (L) and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang ( R)
The delegation, consisting of 24 U.S. business leaders in the clean technology field, is the first-ever presidential trade mission sent to China by the Obama administration. Margaret Wong , President of California Center and McWong Environmental Technology (MET), an environmental engineering company headquartered in Sacramento with offices in Shanghai and Beijing, joined the mission with the other 23 U.S. business leaders. During the trade mission MET will be sharing with U.S. and China leaders its strong presence in China and the business opportunities for US environmental and energy efficient technology and services in particularly related to clean water, smart cities and the latest waste water treatment technologies that the U.S. can offer. “We are very proud to be the only Sacramento area company(MET) selected to join this group of world-class innovation leaders from the United States, all working for the common cause of decreasing harmful pollutants of water and air creating increased economic opportunity globally,” said Margaret Wong, President and CEO of MET.
Penny Pritzker-U.S Commerce Secretary (R1); Margaret Wong-President of California Center (R2)
“China is accelerating a new type of ‘people-oriented’ urbanization plan, which offers a huge market for the advanced technology and management experience of the United States,” Li told the delegation led by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. Pritzker told Li that the mission shows how important the U.S. government considers its trade ties with China.
Li urged combining U.S. technology, regulation and experience with competitive Chinese equipment and industries to jointly explore third markets. “This will help boost balanced growth of our two-way trade,” he added. Li said China is willing to enhance strategic trust and substantial cooperation with the United States, properly manage differences and jointly cope with regional and global challenges. Calling trade ties a “ballast” in China-U.S. ties, Li said the two economies are highly compatible, and both countries enjoy huge cooperation prospects in such areas as infrastructure, energy, information and environmental protection.
Premier Li called on both sides to facilitate negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) to reach a “high-level and balanced” agreement at an early date. China’s reform and opening-up policy and its commitment to World Trade Organization regulations will remain unchanged, he said. “China will continue to open wider to the world and will have a more transparent and predictable market,” said the premier. He welcomed companies from various countries to enter the Chinese market and enjoy fair play. Li pledged to treat Chinese and foreign companies equally and better protect intellectual property rights. The Chinese premier called on the U.S. side to ease high-tech exports to China and take effective measures to make Chinese investment in the United States more convenient.
Pritzker told Li the U.S. side is ready to boost cooperation with China in areas such as clean technology, energy conservation and environmental protection. She welcomed U.S.-China joint cooperation in developing third markets, and welcomed more Chinese companies to invest in the United States. The United States will elevate BIT negotiations with China in a constructive manner in an effort to reach a list acceptable to both as soon as possible, Pritzker said.
Davis, CA – California Center team was invited to join the workshop -Doing Business in China- by UC Davis California Institute of Food and Agricultural Research (CIFAR) on March 25th, 2015 at the RIM Silverado Sensory Theather, UC Davis. During the workshop, Margaret Wong, President and CEO of California Center, delivered engaging speeches about how California Center uses its network and Ecommerce platform to help California businesses to successfully do business in China.
Sharon Shoemaker, founder and director of CIFAR, makes introduction aobut CIFARSharon Shoemaker, founder and director of CIFAR, makes introduction about California CenterMargaret Wong, President and CEO of California Center, delivers speeches about California Center
In addition, Jia Chen, China Direct program manager from Cal Asian Chamber of Commerce, introduced the Chamber’s new program that is aimed to help California businesses to export to China. China Direct program is a federally funded program administered by the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce under cooperative agreement with the International Trade Administration’s (ITA) Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) under the US Department of Commerce (USDOC). Operating in the largest exporting state in the U.S. and a leading global trade hub, the CHINA DIRECT is geared towards facilitating the long-term growth of California’s processed foods industry exports to China. The program is expected to generate an estimated $85 million in exports over the next four years. California Center has formed a strategic partnership with the Chamber to facilitate the success of the program.
Jia Chen, China Direct program manager from Cal Asian Chamber of Commerce, introduced the Chamber’s new program that is aimed to help California businesses to export to China.
Also, Genevieve Herreria, California Manager from California Office of Trade and Investment, shared insights about how the trade office is helping both U.S. and Chinese companies to do business in the U.S. and China.
Genevieve Herreria- California Manager from California Office of Trade and Investment (R)
