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SACRAMENTO - 04/29/96 - The State of California has unveiled a new website that pools the resources of major agencies "to make life easier for people who want to start or expand their business, or take their company global."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger launched he California Business Portal - www.calbusiness.ca.gov  - at a recent meeting of the Bay Area Economic Council in San Francisco, where he highlighted the "re-energized" California economy and laid out his vision for continued economic growth.

Seen as an attempt to battle the chronic reputation that California has as a difficult place to do business, the website was created as an inter-agency collaborative effort sponsored by the California Economic Development Partnership, which is comprised of three state agencies - the Labor and Workforce Development Agency; the California Department of Food and Agriculture; and the Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency.

The site brings together experts and resources - state, federal, and private - to promote business and create jobs in California.

The governor's office approved the creation of the Economic Development Partnership late last year.

The website, according to Labor and Workforce Development Agency Director of Communications Jehan Flagg, grew "in response to people saying it would be helpful if they had access to this information," calling the new website "our launching pad."

Several California chambers of commerce and regional economic development agencies have worked to encourage a sea-change in the reality and the perception of business at the highest levels in Sacramento, and the website is one result.

The site offers everything from the basics of starting a business to financing to technical assistance.

In the "Establishing Your Business in California" section, information is presented on starting a business; acquiring business permits, proper licensing and registration; making changes to your business; relocating or expanding a business; California business laws and regulations; and tax information.

Under "Exporting Your Goods and Services," the links connect to a variety of sights covering exporting and logistics, while the "Foreign Investment In California" section offers assistance in international business; setting up business in California: a guide for investors; an international business relations program; links to foreign consulates in California; information on foreign businesses doing business in the US and foreign direct investment in the US.

"This new site is a great first step in the state taking a leadership position in providing California companies with the information they need to grow their businesses globally," said Garrett Ashley, recently appointed Undersecretary for International Trade at the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.

"Each step we take in that direction is an important one," said Ashley, who is responsible for oversight of the California International Trade Partnership Business Plan and serves as liaison to the US Department of Commerce's Foreign Commercial Service (USFCS) to maximize federal trade promotion resources on the state's behalf.

The new website also has a section - "Promoting Key Industries in California" - that links to information on California-specific agriculture; biotechnology; film; high-growth industries; and travel and tourism.

Under "Promoting California's Regions," the links take visitors to the website to information and data on California's economic regions; the California Economic Strategy Panel; the California Regional Economies Project; and local and regional economic development agencies.

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NEW INTEL FACILITY PLANNED IN CHINA

SANTA CLARA – 04/06/07 – Intel has said it will build a $2.5 billion semiconductor plant near China’s port city of Dalian; the facility, expected to start operations in about three years, will be Intel's first factory in Asia that will fabricate wafers – the thin silicon platters on which dozens of chips are etched – and is expected to boost the company’s investments in China to $4 billion.