Local companies This week's annual conference of the Asian Development Bank at the Hawaii Convention Center appears to be a mixed priority for local companies.
ambivalent about
ADB meet
Some look forward to networking,
while others will stay awayBy Tim Ruel
Star-BulletinArchitectural firm Group 70 International Inc. isn't going. The company's staff has been busy with day-to-day projects and the meeting, although noteworthy, just got lost in the cracks, said Francis Oda, the company's chairman and chief executive.
"That's the way it is sometimes," he said.
But Anne Mapes is going. The president of consulting firm Belt Collins Hawaii Ltd. said she is looking forward to talking with representatives of Asian countries and learning more about the region's economic climate. "This is a way for us to keep up to date and hear what others have to say," Mapes said.
Mapes and other Hawaii businesses will get their chance to rub elbows with the conference's 3,500 attendees at a Tuesday networking event run by the Hawaii Business Forum. The forum is holding several events during the week to link local companies seeking to do business in Asia with officials of the Asian Development Bank.
The bank, based in the Philippines, spends $6 billion each year to finance economic development projects in poor countries of the Pacific Rim. From 1995 through 1999, the bank awarded 20 contracts to Hawaii companies, for a total of $8.5 million. The work has largely gone to environmental consulting companies, planners, architects and engineers.
Hawaii businesses had until the end of March to sign up for local networking events.
Architecture firm Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo didn't make it. "We tried to sign up and were told it's too late," said Howard Wolff, senior vice president. "We were interested, but we missed the boat."
Projects in Asia have accounted for more than half the Honolulu firm's annual business. Going to the conference would have helped with networking, Wolff lamented.
Environmental consulting firm Earth Tech Inc., however, made the deadline and is sending four of its staff members to a kick-off breakfast.
"We just want to learn the process and see what type of projects will be applicable to what we do," said Harry Doo, vice president and manager of the firm's Honolulu office. Earth Tech is a subsidiary of Bermuda-based diversified manufacturing and services company Tyco International Ltd. Earth Tech has done projects in Korea, Japan and Okinawa and has been interested in doing business with ADB for years, Doo said.
Contracting firm Grace Pacific Corp. isn't going to the meeting. The company simply isn't interested in doing business in Asia, an official said.
Dick Pacific Construction Co., however, is sending a couple of its staff. "It's primarily for networking," said President Denny Watts. Dick Pacific is targeting projects in Korea, Bali and Hong Kong, Watts said.
Asian Development Bank
