Altec boosts trade with China: Firm’s president traveled to Beijing, Shanghai on a mission
Published in: St. Joseph News-Press (St. Joseph, MO)
Date: 11/25/2006
By: Susan Mires
Altec’s president and chief executive officer traveled to China on a mission to promote trade. The end result could be more jobs in St. Joseph. “By taking down trade barriers, we’re able to bring more product into China,” said Lee Styslinger of Altec. “It makes great strategic sense for us to be working closely together.” Mr. Styslinger, a member of the President’s Export Council, traveled with Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez to Beijing and Shanghai from Nov. 13 to 17. In a telephone interview this week, he said the group of about a dozen met with China’s premier and vice premier. “Meeting the leadership of 1.3 billion people was a unique and rare opportunity,” he said. The trade mission focused on four areas of concern between the two nations: intellectual property rights, including piracy of materials; trade imbalance; the exchange rate, which keeps China’s currency undervalued; and environmental concerns. Mr. Styslinger said they want to raise awareness so the Chinese develop the same policy and procedures as the United States regarding safety and health of workers and protecting the environment. “That awareness is important to overcoming the difference between our countries,” he said. Altec manufactures truck-mounted equipment for electric utility and telecommunications industries and operates its largest facility in St. Joseph, where employment is estimated at 700. Mr. Styslinger said Altec has been doing business in China for more than 10 years, where development has driven demand for electric utility equipment. He believes more opportunities exist for the company. “The main opportunities are to be aware of the trends in the economy,” he said. Often, people think opening trade means jobs will go to another country, but Mr. Styslinger believes Altec will add jobs in the United States if the company can export more products. He also reaffirmed Altec’s commitment to stay in St. Joseph, where it is one of the city’s largest employers. “We have found that our corporate values are very much in line with our team and associate group in the culture of the St. Joseph community,” he said.