Hasu Gavan, seated, CEO of Baron Manufacturing, evaluates the work of a Hong Kong-based cabinet manufacturer that he met through Business Matching, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's customized business matching service.

Baron Manufacturing is a leading manufacturer of lumber mill products used in the construction business in North and Latin America. The company, based in Pompano Beach, Florida, provides a range of services, from design and production to installation and renovations.

With an increasing demand for its products, the company wanted to outsource a mass-manufacturing initiative and looked to China. “But with thousands of potential suppliers in China, I simply didn't have the time and knowledge to screen and qualify these companies to ensure that they met our quality standards and import regulations," said Chief Executive Officer Hasu Gavan.

After two years of sporadic sourcing efforts, with minimal results, Mr Gavan attended a Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) seminar on sourcing in China. There he learned about the HKTDC's Business Matching service.

"Business Matching delivered the customised linking solution I was looking for," said Mr Gavan. His company submitted an application to Business Matching, with its team of bilingual specialists. They were able to identify more than 30 Hong Kong-based companies with manufacturing facilities located in China's Pearl River Delta. Nine manufacturers were screened to ensure a perfect match.

Subsequently, Mr Gavan visited Hong Kong as part of a Florida business delegation to World SME Expo and met with the nine manufacturing contenders. "The meetings were productive, since Business Matching had given me all the background information I needed to proceed with confidence," he said.

Mr Gavan is planning a trip to the Chinese mainland to visit three of the manufacturing facilities. "With HKTDC Business Matching, I’m sure we’ll find suitable partners to expedite our entry into China and minimise our sourcing costs when we move into mass manufacturing."

HKTDC Business Matching helps local and overseas companies look for potential partners for business development. For more information, email businessmatching@hktdc.org. You can also call (852) 1830 668, or the Hong Kong Trade Development Council office near you. For more information, click here.

Rewritten from World Trade, USA, March 2007