FirstPathway Weblog

Friday, March 23rd 2012- This week the China Daily published a feature article on Bob Kraft’s momentum in China. Kraft has been working to cultivate relationships and investment between China and the US, for over 10 years. The China Daily sites Kraft as “one of the most successful businessmen in attracting Chinese investment to the United States.” Kraft is Chair of the MMAC China Council and Chairman/CEO, of FirstPathway Partners, one of the largest EB5 investment immigration providers in the United States.

Kraft is honored to be featured in The China Daily, a key reference point for overseas media. The China Daily is considered one of the most authoritative newspapers in China, with the widest print circulation of any English-language newspaper. The newspaper has an average daily circulation of more than 400,000 in 150 countries and regions.

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Last Week, Chairman, Huo Guanglai and GM, Yuan Chao of the Beijing Ducks hosted former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, Foley & Lardner Partner Marc Marotta, and FirstPathway Partners President Bob Kraft and Director of China Operations Dan Redford at a Beijing Ducks basketball game at the Shougang Steel Arena. The Beijing Ducks are Beijing’s premier Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) team.

The delegation toured the campus of the Shougang Steel’s Arena, which includes an international basketball gymnasium, training facilities, tennis courts, and engineering academy.

This year the Ducks are led by NBA star Stephen Marbury. We are happy to say that the Ducks walked away with a huge victory and are the early favorite for the CBA championship!

Marotta is a former Marquette University basketball player and Chairman of the board for the Milwaukee Bradley Center, home of the NBA Bucks.

FirstPathway Partners is proud to support a growing dynamic partnership between the Beijing Ducks and the city of Milwaukee. In 2006, the Ducks came to Milwaukee to train with Bucks, building lasting friendships and a long-term relationship. We look forward to welcoming the Ducks back to Milwaukee in the near future.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011- Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners and Co-chair of the MMAC China Council, attended the exclusive President’s Circle Preview Party- The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City. This event was a sneak peak to the exhibition on view Saturday, June 11 through Sunday, September 11, 2011.

The Milwaukee Art Museum is one of only three museums in the world to ever showcase the over ninety objects of ceremony and leisure from the Qianlong Garden and the Forbidden City in Beijing.

“This is an extraordinary, unprecedented opportunity for the public to see masterpieces from the legendary Forbidden City complex before the objects return to Beijing where they will likely never leave the country again,” said Daniel Keegan, director of the Milwaukee Art Museum. “We are honored to be one of only three museums worldwide to present this breathtaking exhibition. It reaffirms our commitment to bringing world-class exhibitions to Milwaukee, and underscores the importance of the Milwaukee Art Museum on the international stage.”

For more information, visit mam.org/china.

VANCOUVER- On Monday, February 21, 2011 Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners attended the launch of the CKF hosted by Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. The foundation will serve to further strengthen economic, social and political ties between Canada and South Korea. Notable guests included Senator Yonah Kim-Martin Canada’s first parliamentarian of Korean origin, Jason Kenney Minister of Citizenship Immigration and Multiculturalism and one of the largest showings of Senators/Cabinet Ministers to any ethnic event.

According to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office, South Korea is currently Canada’s seventh-largest trading partner with two-way merchandise trade reaching $9.5 billion in 2009.

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Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners (FPP), has returned from another successful trip to China where he greeted agents and promoted new projects.

Kraft also ventured to Hong Kong to meet with FPP’s escrow agents at J.P. Morgan Chase. During meetings, Kraft praised the current EB5 escrow account model, which facilitates the flow of investor funds, citing high investor confidence and security.

Bob Kraft would like to take this opportunity wish all of his friends, clients and associates a Happy Lunar New Year.

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FirstPathway Partners (FPP) was proud to assist Bangjie He, Ambassador of Ningbo to the US, in hosting China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Ningbo Sub-Council (CCPIT) /China Chamber of Commerce Ningbo Chamber (CCOIC) Chairman, Mr. Zheng Wei Gu and Chief of the Ningbo Dept of International Exhibition, Mr. Wei FU.

During their visit to Milwaukee guest’s toured FPP headquarters, the Harley Davidson Museum, and other points of interest around Milwaukee. FPP was honored to host such esteemed guests.

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Milwaukee- On Tuesday March 16, 2010 the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Ningbo Sub-Council (CCPIT) in joint with the China Chamber of Commerce Ningbo Chamber (CCOIC) finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce ( MMAC ).

In a closed meeting, CCPIT/CCOIC Chairman Zhengwei Gu and MMAC President Tim Sheehy signed an MOU which aims to bridge cultural, trade and economic exchange between Ningbo, China and Milwaukee, USA. Ningbo is Milwaukee’s informal sister city.

Other attendees were the Chief of the Ningbo Department of International Exhibition Mr. Wei FU, Milwaukee Deputy Commissioner Martha Brown, MMAC Vice President Peter Beitzel, Ningbo Ambassador to the United States Bangjie He, FPP Chairman and CEO Bob Kraft, FPP Partner Dick Zagorski, and attorneys Julie Lee and Tom Gehl.

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This week Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of  FirstPathway Partners,  signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of  Taiyuan in the Shanxi Province.  The MOU shows support for FirstPathway Partners’  EB5 efforts  and serves to foster trade between the Milwaukee region and Taiyuan.  This endorsement is forecasted to bring many immigrant investors to Milwaukee and grow business relations between the regions.

Bob Kraft also hosted a successful seminar at the Taiyuan World Trade Hotel on Friday, November 6th.

Click Here to View the MOU