MARYLAND-CHINA BUSINESS COUNCIL
TENTH ANNUAL MEETING
President's Report
January 12, 2005

The Maryland-China Business Council is 10 years old in 2005! Some people did not expect to see us last this long, but we have continued to address the needs of our membership to become a one-of-a-kind association serving the practical needs of businesses and other organizations throughout Maryland, the Mid-Atlantic region and even beyond.

At the end of 2004 MCBC had 101 members: 41 corporate and 60 individual members. Sponsoring members included Excel Services Corporation, M&T Bank and Prime Manufacturing Technologies. Contributing members included Baltimore Aircoil Company, ChemPacific, Davis Inotek Instruments, Jida International and McCormick. We appreciate the continued support of these organizations into our 10th anniversary year.

One constant over the years is the diversity of MCBC's members. We are organizations and individuals involved in manufacturing, trade, law, consulting, academia, government and a variety of other sectors. The membership base has grown beyond the initial concentration in the Baltimore area, spreading throughout Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia, Pennsylvania and beyond.
In 2004 MCBC organized 10 regular monthly programs and special events, including discussions about investing in Chinese equities, protecting intellectual property rights, means of correctly entering the Chinese market, and much more. We also co-sponsored or supported as many as nine other events, including networking forums with high-level Chinese business delegations, an international intellectual property rights workshop in Shanghai, a matchmaking trade mission, breakfast with the director general of Invest Hong Kong, and other activities across the Mid-Atlantic region and the country.

In October of 2004, MCBC participated in Governor Ehrlich's Mission to China. A number of our members were on the official delegation, signing new business deals and memoranda of understanding, opening new facilities, and making many useful new contacts. I also participated, representing MCBC as an organization.

As MCBC enters its second decade, we believe we are well positioned to achieve our mission of fostering increased business understanding and activity with China through networking, speaker programs and other activities. The board of directors is striving to strengthen and improve the management of the organization so that MCBC can continue to grow and provide meaningful support to its membership. As always, your ideas, suggestions and input are needed to ensure we as an organization continue to meet your needs.

Clay E. Hickson
Chairman and President