ChinaSF-Recruited Companies Triple Footprint and Receive White House Recognition

03/01/11—Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced GCL Solar Energy (GCL) will expand its North American headquarters in San Francisco, tripling its footprint in the City to approximately 15,000 square feet.  GCL is the U.S. subsidiary of China’s largest polysilicon producer and one of the world’s leading solar wafer suppliers. ChinaSF first recruited GCL to San Francisco in 2009.

“GCL Solar Energy’s success underscores our success in attracting and retaining exceptional, industry-leading cleantech firms to San Francisco,” said Mayor Lee. “ChinaSF has tremendous economic development impacts and we congratulate GCL Solar Energy on their expansion and reaching a significant milestone in our City.”

“By locating our North American headquarters presence here in San Francisco, we were well-positioned to build relationships with key global solar industry players in order to gain visibility into important solar opportunities,” said Yumin Liu, President of GCL. “As we continue to grow our presence in San Francisco and the North American market, we look forward to even greater achievements.”

GCL Solar Energy’s new North American headquarters will now occupy a full floor at One Market Street.  Not only has ChinaSF helped recruit GCL to San Francisco, ChinaSF helped connect GCL to San Francisco’s cleantech industry leaders including Wells Fargo & Company, which has recently announced a partnership with GCL to provide $100 million in funding for six solar projects to be completed in 2011.

“Now in its third year of operation, ChinaSF’s positive impact on jobs and investment will grow exponentially.  Though the firms we recruit to San Francisco start small, as demonstrated by GCL Solar Energy, they have the ability to grow quickly,” said Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting, ChinaSF Board Chair. “ChinaSF congratulates GCL Solar Energy.”

Another ChinaSF recruit from 2010, Zinch.com, has been identified by the White House to be the main SF-based partner in President Barack Obama’s “100,000 Strong” Initiative, a national effort to dramatically increase and diversify the composition of American students studying in China. The initiative is part of a recent agreement between President Obama and China’s President Hu Jintao to increase student exchange between China and the U.S.  The U.S. will send 100,000 students to study abroad in China, and China will send 100,000 students to study in the U.S.  Zinch.com, a private U.S. information management company with operations in China, will create a free online database for American students to find study abroad opportunities in China.

“Since moving to San Francisco, Zinch has continued to grow taking advantage of both the talented local workforce and San Francisco’s cultural and geographic proximity to China,” said Anne Dwane, CEO of Zinch.com. “Since our business in the US and China continues to expand, we are thrilled to be recognized for our efforts in support of President Obama’s “100,000 Strong” Initiative. Zinch is enthusiastic to help more students find opportunities to study in China.  Increasing the number and diversity of students enjoying study abroad programs not only enriches education but also builds meaningful, lasting cross-cultural ties.”

For more information about ChinaSF, go to www.ChinaSF.org .