BUSINESS 101 IN TAIWAN

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Dec 23, 2006 | by DEBBIE KELLEY THE GAZETTE

"America is open for business."

That's the message Richard "Rick" Redella plans to deliver next month to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners in Taiwan.

Redella, an adjunct faculty member at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs' Center for Entrepreneurship and owner of several businesses, was invited to give four seminars at Ching Yun University in Taiwan beginning Jan. 9 and ending Jan. 18. For the rest of the month, he will peddle his presentation on doing business in the United States to as many companies as he can, particularly those in the high-technology industry, and to investors.

His goal: "To get companies to come to the United States and start a business or sell a product. And, of course, I want them to come to Colorado Springs."

Redella, who teaches entrepreneurship and marketing classes, is traveling to Taiwan at the request of officials from Ching Yun University, located in Chung Li. He formed a relationship with 16 Taiwanese students last summer when they visited UCCS.

"Marketing interns worked with me as chaperones and guides, and we really took good care of them," Redella said.

The wining and dining paid off with the invitation to tout the advantages of doing business halfway around the world.

"Taiwan is one of the most thriving capitalistic economies, has a well-developed high-tech market and an entrepreneurial spirit. As such, they have the infrastructure to develop products and services or partner with companies here," he said.

George Boutin, executive director of the Colorado Springs Office of International Affairs, which helps local businesses increase sales in international markets and encourages investments from overseas companies, said he hopes Redella is successful.

"We'd like to build on the trade relationships he develops when he's there," Boutin said. "Taiwan has a very big IT industry, which obviously matches what we've got here, and I'm hoping Rick will find partners for some of our firms to be more profitable."

Redella is founder of American Business Systems, a software development company based in Chicago that has clients in places such as France, Spain and Guam. He also owns American Business Technologies, which provides billing and marketing services. Based on his industry experience, Redella said he knows how lucrative international business can be.

To flaunt the friendly business climate of Colorado Springs, Redella hired promoter Paul Laamann of Peyton to create videos and other marketing materials.

In addition to showcasing prominent sites in Colorado Spring and cities such as New York and Las Vegas, the instructional videos give information on developments in the high technology industry, financial advice and testimonials from UCCS students. Some local business people speak in Mandarin, the native language of Taiwan, on the video.

William "Bill" Souba, business-development officer for Premier Bank, an independent community bank with a location in Colorado Springs, recruited the bank's founder, Taiwanese-born Eric Wang, to do a 45-minute videotaped discussion about investing, buying a franchise, buying an existing business with cash flow, selling products and other financial issues.

Premier specializes in serving ethnic communities in Colorado, and Redella said having Wang convey information in Mandarin should speak to the heart of Taiwanese business people.

Redella also will carry to the island of Taiwan an endorsement from Mayor Lionel Rivera. Coincidentally, one of Colorado Springs' longtime sister cities is Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The link was established in 1983.

Mayor Rivera gave Redella a letter to deliver to officials in Kaohsiung while he's in Taiwan.

"There's the synergy between that cooperative relationship and the student exchange between UCCS and CYU -- those present us with a huge opportunity for business development," Redella said.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0235 or debbie.kelley@gazette.com

BUSINESS IN TAIWAN

Major exports: Electrical machinery and mechanical appliances

Major imports: Electrical machinery and parts

Industry: Labor-intensive industries have been replaced by capital and technology-intensive industries, such as chemical and petrochemical production, information technology, electrical equipment and electronics manufacturing.

SOURCE: Taiwan Government Information Office

ABOUT TAIWAN

Location: The island, also known as the Republic of China, is east of China and south of Japan.

Government: Republic of China relocated to Taiwan in 1949 when the Chinese Communist Party established the People's Republic of China. It still has jurisdiction over the island.

Population: 23 million