As Kristen Legendre approaches day 30 of her 90-day economic development mission toWeihai City, China, on behalf of theTerrebonne ParishEconomic Development Authority (TEDA), she says the most promising prospects include the exportation of U.S. seafood and shipbuilding expertise.  “We are working with Xigang Yacht Company officials to help them find an ideal U.S. partner to help the Chinese develop their knowledge and skills in boat manufacturing—concentrating on technology and design,” says Legendre, Terrebonne-Weihai director of business development for TEDA. “We have made significant progress with this project and are currently working to establish a relationship between businesses.” “The Chinese market for Louisiana seafood is also growing,” Legendre says. “We are working to establish relationships between the China Weihai Yuwang Group and seafood interests in the U.S. for potential equal partnership. The Yuwang Group is interested in importing Louisiana Gulf shrimp and oysters. In addition, there may be a large U.S. market for some Chinese aquatic products, specifically the sea cucumber and its extract because of its health benefits.” Steve Vassallo, chief executive officer of TEDA, says Legendre’s mission to China, hosted by Weihai City, “represents what proactive economic development is all about. Kristen’s work in Weihai will strengthen Terrebonne’s five-year economic alliance with that city, signed on June 19 of last year.” Moreover, Vassallo says Weihai Vice Mayor Tian Zhiying has instructed the Foreign Affairs Office to begin preparations to send a business delegation to Houma later this fall to focus on the shipbuilding industry. Terrebonne Port Director David Rabalais will assume the overall responsibility for the visit and will coordinate the delegation’s schedule with Weihai Foreign Affairs Official Yu Guochun, who spent three months earlier this year working out of the TEDA offices in Houma. TEDA remains the only economic development authority in Louisiana to have established an accord with mainland China, Vassallo adds.