FirstPathway Weblog

On Thursday, December 8, 2011 Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners, joined Milwaukee Mayor, Tom Barrett as he presented a bronze bald eagle sculpture to the city of Ningbo, China in celebration of Milwaukee’s five-year anniversary with the City.  In 2006, Milwaukee signed a cooperative MOU with Ningbo, China.

The gift, a beautifully carved, 6 ft., bronze bald eagle, created by artist Mike Capser, symbolizes the American spirit and continued development of a dynamic partnership between Ningbo and Milwaukee. The sculpture will be on display at the Ningbo Museum. This gift is in response to the 2008 presentation of Ningbo’s two stone lions to the city of Milwaukee. The lions can be seen at the entrance of the Zeidler Municipal Building on Broadway St. in downtown Milwaukee.

First Pathway Partners, Chairman/CEO and MMAC China Council Co-Chair Bob Kraft, spoke on behalf of Milwaukee Business leaders at the event.

On Thursday, December 8, 2011 Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners, will join Milwaukee Mayor, Tom Barrett as he presents a bronze bald eagle sculpture to the city of Ningbo, China in celebration of Milwaukee’s five-year anniversary with the City.  The sculpture will be on displayed at the Ningbo Museum.

For a list of activities surrounding the historic events or to attend an EB5 seminar hosted by Mr. Kraft please contact info@firstpathway.com.

Starting June 10th Milwaukee’s gift will be on display for residents before being shipped to its permanent home in Ningbo, China. In 2011 Milwaukee will present its sister city Ningbo with the 6 ft golden eagle. This gift is in response to the 2008 presentation of Ningbo’s two stone lions to the city of Milwaukee. The lions can be seen at the entrance of the Zeidler Municipal Building on Broadway St. in downtown Milwaukee.

The eagle, created by created by artist Mike Capser, is currently on display at the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) lobby on the first floor. Viewers are welcome.

Wednesday June 9, 2010- This week the Milwaukee delegation visited Ningbo, China to participate in an international trade exhibition and meet with local officials. Ningbo and Milwaukee have been unofficial sister cities since 2006.

During their visit the delegation meet with Deputy Party Secretary Yijun Tang, 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 officers of the Ningbo Municipal Government and Foreign Affairs Office.

Throughout meetings Yijun Tang focused on the rapid growth of cooperative initiatives between Ningbo and Milwaukee since becoming sister cities in 2006.

The Milwaukee delegation, led by Martha Brown, Deputy Commissioner of City Development and Bob Kraft, MMAC China Council Co-Chair and Chairman/CEO of FirstPathway Partners would like to thank all of their friends in Ningbo for their gracious hospitality.

Click here to read the Ningbo Daily article

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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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June 8th through the 10th thousands of people from around the world visited the International Trade Conference Pavilion in Ningbo for The Zhejiang Investment & Trade Symposium, among those in attendance was FirstPathway Partners. The Zhejiang Investment & Trade Symposium serves to encourage exchanges and discussion between companies in the Zhejiang province and overseas investment promotion organizations such as Economic Cooperation Zones, and sister cities like Milwaukee.

During the conference FirstPathway executives attended a lunches hosted by The Ningbo Foreign Affairs Office, The Ningbo Foreign Trade and Cooperation Bureau, The Ningbo Foreign Affairs Office and The Xiangshan Municipal Government. Topics for the meetings included future cooperation, gift exchange, visits, and promotion of the EB5 program.

On the final day of the conference  FirstPathway executives attended “Presentation on Investment in the US” a conference jointly held by Council of American States in China (CASIC) and the City of Ningbo.  During this conference FirstPathway Representative Young Shen was honored to present “Investor Immigration: New Developments and the EB5 Immigration Process” to hundreds of attendees.

While in Ningbo executives also met with the Bank of China & local immigration agents.

While in Ningbo for the Zhejiang Investment & Trade Symposium Bob Kraft and Dan Wycklendt were honored to receive a private tour of the province from friend and Senor Ambassador of Ningbo to the United States, Bangjie He. Their tour included a boat ride down the Fenghua River, a site visit to the future home of Milwaukee’s gift to Ningbo (its sister city), and many other historic local sites. During their visit Kraft and Wycklendt were also honored  guests at a private dinner hosted by the Yinzhou District Municipal Government. The two were also treated to an overnight stay at “Gold Beach” hosted by Xiangshan Municipal Government. We would like to thank all our friends in Ningbo for making our stay both memorable and enjoyable.

As the City of Milwaukee and FirstPathway Partners welcomed the Ningbo Delegation, the Chinese came baring gifts.  In an event at the Zeidler Municipal Building in Downtown Milwaukee, two hand carved stone lions were unveiled by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Ningbo Vice Mayor Wu Hemin, and FirstPathway Partners Chairman Bob Kraft, among others.  These 6 foot tall lions each weigh nearly 3,000 pounds, and will guard the city of Milwaukee.  FirstPathway was honored to be part of such a wonderful event.

FirstPathway Partners also sponsored a boat tour on the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan for the Ningbo Delegation.  The visitors from China were able to get a unique view of Milwaukee from the water, and see much of what the City has to offer. 

After the dedication of the lions, Bob Kraft and Dan Wycklendt joined the rest of delegation for dinner at Foley and Lardner, in the top of the US Bank Building.  It was a perfect opportunity for the Milwaukee representatives to break bread with the visitors from Ningbo and discuss the future growing relationship between the two cities.

The following day, representatives from the Milwaukee area and local business people met for the 2008 Ningbo-Milwaukee Business Cooperation Trade Conference.  The Conference, hosted by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, focused on opportunities for Ningbo and Milwaukee to work together in the future. 

FirstPathway Partners was honored to take part welcoming our visitors from Ningbo.  We look forward to working with them in the future to grow the relationship between our two cities.

Thank you Jason Li and Janice Zagorski for the pictures from the events!

Here is the story from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=774242

Our trip to China was very successful. In Shanghai we met with five Immigration Agencies .These agencies represent Chinese citizens who have a desire to immigrate into another country. There is growing interest in China to pursue immigration into the United States. The US EB-5 program is a great vehicle that enables qualified individuals to secure a permanent Green Card, and then, after three years, qualify for US Citizenship. With our partner Scott Harrison and his Shanghai based staff we negotiated contracts with three of the Immigration Agencies. These partnerships will result in FirstPathway Partners having a strong, proactive, business development reach into the robust China market.

Our visit to Ningbo was very fruitful. Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Ningbo, China have formed a Sister City relationship. Over the past two years, both cities have exchanged delegations to pursue mutually beneficial business relationships. We participated, as representatives from Milwaukee, in the 10^th Annual Zhejiang Investment & Trade Symposium, and the 7^th Annual China International Consumer Goods Fair. Discussions revolved around numerous opportunities for Ningbo and Milwaukee. Ningbo is sending a delegation to Milwaukee on July 21^st. We, along with all of our Milwaukee associates, look forward to hosting them and continuing productive dialogues.  

FirstPathway partners and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce are excited to welcome the delegates from Ningbo for the 2008 Ningbo/Milwaukee Business Cooperation Trade Conference.  All are welcome at this conference taking place at the Wyndham Milwaukee Airport Hotel on July 22nd.  Please plan on attending this relationship building event with our Sister-City in China.  Below is the event information.

2008 Ningbo Municipal Government & Economic Cooperation Hosted by Ningbo Municipal People’s Government Undertaken by Ningbo Foreign Trade & Economic Cooperation Bureau Supported by Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
Event Dates and Times:	7/22/2008 09:30AM – 02:00PM
Location:	The Wyndham Milwaukee Airport Hotel and Convention Center 4747 South Howell Avenue Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53207 USA (414) 481.8000
Event Fees:	$0 – All are welcome
Description:	This conference will be led by Vice Mayor of Ningbo Mr. Wu Hemin and will consist of more than 30 government officials, business executives and dignataries from Ningbo. The conference will present the latest developments and business opportunities in Ningbo.AGENDA 9:30 PM – 10:00 PM Registration10:00 PM – 10:10 PM Introduction of distinguished guests10:10 PM – 10:20 PM Comments from the General Consulate of the P.R.China in Chicago10:20 PM – 10:30 PM Welcome by Mickey Judkins, State of Wisconsin Department of Commerce, Martha Brown, Milwaukee Department of City Development and Tim Sheehy, MMAC 10:30 PM – 10:50 PM Mr.Wu Hemin, Vice Mayor of Ningbo Introducing Ningbo: The latest in development and economic cooperation 10:50 PM – 11:10 PM Introduction of the Ningbo Cixi Economic Development Zone 11:10 PM – 11:25 PM Introduction of Ningbo information industry 11:25 PM – 12:00 PM Question and answer session 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM Lunch (provided) 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM Comments by Tim Sheehy, MMAC and video introduction of Milwaukee in Chinese 12:50 PM – 1:20 PM Introduction of Ningbo Meishan Free Trade Port 1:20 PM – 2:00 PM Business networking and discussion. Four booths will be available for: Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Ningbo Information industry Ningbo Cixi Economic Development Zone Ningbo Meishan Free Trade Port
Contact Person:	KATIE HENRY (414) 287.4123 khenry@mmac.org