The Government Sponsored International Trade programs are created in coordination with states' Department of Economic Development missions in order to provide local businesses with the opportunity to meet important contacts, learn about the Chinese market, and leverage trade opportunities in China. The main goal of these programs is to create longstanding business contacts and international understanding in order to further develop exports and imports between states' industries and China.

Program details

Program participants spend at least one year (with the possibility of extending the stay to two years) at Fudan University in Shanghai where they study Mandarin and take business courses in order to gain a better understanding of the way of doing business in China. These courses will help participants to be better prepared to do business in China and promote the economic development of their states while becoming specialized professionals in their home states' economic relationships with China.

Each state assigns a development mentor who performs periodic checkups with participants in order to ensure that they are working towards optimal results and taking maximum advantage of their stay by acquiring as much knowledge as possible.

Program objectives 

  • To train professionals to become experts in their states' commercial relationship with China, who are capable of developing sustainable commercial projects in both countries
  • To maintain a development center conducting market studies in China that is sponsored and operated by projects originally promoted by the state governments' Department of Economic Development
  • To create exchange agents who will serve as an economic connection between the state governments and the Chinese economy 
  • Carry out different business projects that encourage academic study in addition to creating partnerships between governments and business in order to achieve tangible results for the private sector and the states' economy 

Academic Program

The academic program take place at Fudan University in Shanghai and includes the following: 

  • Language courses (20 hours a week)
  • Economic discussions with Chinese Officials
  • Company visits in Shanghai
  • Three field trips per semester 
  • Business courses (two courses per semester, 13 sessions of three hours for each course):
    • Doing Business in China
    • China in the World Economy
    • An Overview of the Chinese Economy: Reform, Opening and Development
    • Advanced Topics on the Chinese Economy 
    • China's Opening Up and Economic Reform
    • Capital Markets and Financial Systems in China 
    • International Finance 

In the case of specific government requirements, the courses can be modified to meet individual requirements. 

Projects and Professional Requirements

Different types of professional projects can be developed in the following industries based on the participants' professional goals:

  • Tourism
  • Automotive 
  • Financial 
  • Regional products
  • Software
  • Packaging and containers 
  • Mining
  • Food and agricultural 
  • Logistics
  • Textiles
  • Plastics 

All participants agree to do the following at the end of their international trade program: 

  • Prepare and present a report to their state government explaining all of their activities and learning performed during their stay in China
  • Dedicate a minimum of 100 hours to establish or develop projects for the local government, businesses, or universities based on their newly acquired knowledge of Chinese business

Request a customized government sponsored international trade program