THOMAS C. LEPPERT

MAYOR

MAYOR’S ASIA TRADE MISSION

Delegation Returning to Dallas

For Immediate Release: Contact: Chris HeinbaughNovember 22, 2009 214.670-0773

Mayor Tom Leppert’s business development and trade mission to Asia isholding final meetings with investors before returning to Dallas Sunday night.“This has been a very positive trip,” said Mayor Leppert. “The response we’ve gotten on so many levels has us all feeling very encouraged that this willtranslate into economic investment and more jobs in Dallas – sooner rather thanlater.”On Saturday, Mayor Leppert, Councilmember Ron Natinsky and thedelegation toured a plant on the perimeter of Shanghai which makessemiconductors and LED lighting equipment, fixtures and bulbs for residentialand commercial use.Mayor Leppert and Councilmember Natinsky are encouraging thecompany to locate an LED manufacturing facility in Dallas.The delegation also held a two-hour meeting in Shanghai with about 60potential investors to promote the city’s new economic development tool, the City of Dallas Regional Center, or CDRC. The CDRC allows high worth foreigners toget a US investor green card if they invest a million dollars and create at least 10 jobs. The delegation is working to match investors with qualified economicdevelopment projects in Dallas. The delegation also met with another dozenpotential CDRC investors in Nanjing on Friday. Also on Friday, the delegation met with Mayor Ji Jianye of Nanjing. MayorLeppert and Mayor Ji signed a Friendship Agreement between Nanjing andDallas. In China, these agreements carry significance in trade and businessesdeals. During the meeting, Mayor Leppert presented Mayor Ji with a DallasMavericks jersey, which has proven to be a popular gift with Chinese officials.Following the formal signing ceremony Mayor Ji hosted the delegation to aformal luncheon.Earlier in the day, the delegation visited the Museum of UrbanDevelopment and Planning in Nanjing, where they were shown a giant scalemodel of the city. The delegation later toured the 600 year old wall of Nanjing.Mayor Leppert and Councilmember Ron Natinsky have been pleased withthe positive response to this visit, and especially the response to the CDRC.“This trip has been extensively covered by the local press in both SouthKorea and China and has gone a long way towards changing attitudes aboutDallas - and in a positive way,” said Councilmember Ron Natinsky, chair of theCouncil’s Economic Development Committee. “And now with our CDRC, we cantranslate that interest into investment.”

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

CITY HALL DALLAS, TEXAS 75201 TELEPHONE 214/670-4054 FAX214/670-0646