In this episode of "Doing What Works: Exploring the Blue Economy," host Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins delves into the vast potential and challenges of the blue economy with guest Stephen CH, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation and the World Trade Center Los Angeles. Together, they discuss the importance of preparing LA County and Southern California for the growth of the blue economy, highlighting the need for coordination, collaboration, and strategic investment to capitalize on this emerging sector.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
- The significance of the blue economy for LA County and Southern California.
- The challenges and opportunities in preparing the region for the growth of the blue economy.
- The importance of collaboration and partnerships in driving the development of the blue economy.
- The impact of funding initiatives on jump-starting preparations for the blue economy.
- Strategies for overcoming hurdles and achieving success in growing the blue economy.
About Our Guest
Stephen Cheung, a leading expert in international trade and economic development, has a profound understanding of the global impact of the Blue Economy. As the former President of the World Trade Center Los Angeles (WTCLA) and the current CEO and President of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), he is a key figure in shaping the region's economic future. Stephen's expertise in connecting local businesses with global opportunities is a testament to his leadership, fostering innovation, and promoting sustainable economic growth within the Blue Economy and beyond.
Impactful Quotes
"And having the ocean next to us, I think we underutilize what the blue economy, the ocean economy, can do for this entire region."
– Stephen Cheung
"I started actually when I was nine in a sweatshop here in Los Angeles County, in the Garment area. I learned that sometimes things don't always work out for folks that don't have access to Career Services and a future. But my first official job where I was paid was as a busboy at a Chinese restaurant."
– Stephen Cheung
"From the trade and logistics sector, the Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach, being the number one and number two container ports in North America, controlling over 43% of all cargo coming into the United States. Those are hundreds of thousands of jobs; anywhere from 800,000 jobs in the Southern California region alone are directly impacted by these two port operations."
– Stephen Cheung
"So that when these industries are growing, especially the blue economy, that the jobs are available to sometimes our most disinvested communities that might not even know that there's an option for them in this field."
– Stephen Cheung
