Entrepreneurs from companies in the state of Idaho in the United States that have operations in China expressed optimism about the potential of the Chinese consumer market during a recent visit to Taiyuan, Shanxi province.

The event is part of a series of activities celebrating the 40th anniversary of the sister relationship between the Chinese province and the US state.

Since establishing friendly relations in 1985, the two sides have maintained close cooperation in agriculture, education and trade.

On March 25, the Idaho-Shanxi Exchange Business Opportunities and Cooperations Seminar began in Taiyuan, with 10 US companies attending to discuss cooperation opportunities with more than 20 Shanxi enterprises.

"Sino-US economic and trade cooperation has always been a mutually beneficial link," said Li Guorong, deputy director of Shanxi's Department of Commerce, at the opening ceremony. "In 2024, the import and export volume between Shanxi and the US accounted for nearly one-fifth of the province's total. The US has become Shanxi's largest export market."

So far, he said that the province has attracted 59 US companies to establish operations in Shanxi.

"As an important energy production base in China, Shanxi is accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system based on its resource endowment and industrial foundation," Li said. "It is promoting the transformation of traditional energy toward green and low-carbon development, with emerging industries such as the digital economy, high-end equipment and biomedicine providing more efficient services and a higher quality environment for global investors."

He emphasized that Idaho has outstanding advantages in agricultural technology and food processing, while Shanxi has enormous potential in the modern agricultural specialty food industry, which shows the high degree of industrial compatibility between the two sides.

Located in the northwestern part of the US, Idaho benefits from fertile volcanic ash soil, advanced irrigation systems and suitable climatic conditions, making agriculture a prominent advantage of the state.

It has cultivated 185 varieties of agricultural and livestock products, with productions of peppermint oil, barley and potatoes taking the lead in the US.

Tom Kealey, director of the Idaho Department of Commerce, expressed in a video that cooperation and exchanges between the state and province will continue to deepen. "Representatives of outstanding Idaho companies will discuss development visions with Shanxi's business community, share development plans in China and jointly explore new areas of cooperation," he said.

"I believe that through the joint efforts of both sides, we will welcome a new era of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation."

Sheng Qingsong, general manager of Simplot (China) Food Co, hopes to find more new development opportunities in Shanxi.

"Since entering China in 1992, we have established very good connections with many agricultural planting partners and downstream customers," he said.

Simplot (China) Food Co is a subsidiary of the J. R. Simplot Company, founded in Idaho in 1929. It focuses on potato processing and products, covering many high-end catering channels. It was one of the earliest foreign-funded companies to enter China.

Han Taifan, deputy director of the Shanxi Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, said that by facing a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, both sides will have broader prospects for cooperation. "Serving as ambassadors of Sino-US friendship, entrepreneurs from both sides will make greater contributions to the development of friendly Sino-US relations," he said.

Zhou Xiaoyu, director of the foreign investment management office of Shanxi's Department of Commerce, expressed hope that via the event, both sides can promote substantial projects in the fields of economy, trade, culture, technology and education, jointly composing a new chapter in the development of Shanxi and Idaho.

The entrepreneurs also visited the Jinci Temple, the Shanxi Transformation and Comprehensive Reform Demonstration Zone and Shanxi Agricultural University to conduct research and gain a deeper understanding of Shanxi's history, culture and economic development.

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