South Carolina, one of the original 13 colonies, has a population of about 4.3 million. A visit to South Carolina by a Chinese trade delegation may seem unusual but this is a necessary development. They signed a MOU- Memorandum of Understanding, with the state government. Harsco Track Technology, a West Columbia Co. and the Chinese Ministry of Railways signed an agreement, and the Governor applauded this announcement. This is for a $350 million contract over 4 years, and Harsco's largest railway track maintenance and equipment sales contract in the division's history! Governor Sanford has visited China twice and opened South Carolina's first office there under the Department of Commerce. South Carolina exports to China rose 12-percent to $870 million.

Chine also purchased machinery, cotton yarn and fabric, plastics, chemical and aluminum. Are there any ideas there for your Howard Giske writes about how to get your South Carolina Incorporation and other business info at Inc Paradise?

The City of Charleston is on the coast of South Carolina, with 120,000 people, or 600,000 in its metropolitan area. The city has developed into a major container port. There is a Bosch plant here- the German manufacturer of automotive parts and brakes. Nucor is a steel producer with a plant in Darlington, South Carolina. They use "mini-mills" which are electric arc furnaces, to melt scrap steel, not blast furnaces. They recycle 10 million tons of scrap steel in the United States. Nucor produced carbon steel in bars and various other shapes, in Darlington and other sites in Berkeley County. The Charleston also has NASCAR motor car racing, at the Darlington Raceway.

Columbia is the state's largest city with 700,000 people in its metropolitan area. It is located away from the coast in the middle of the state. Columbia is known as a great place for kayaking, canoeing and other boat lovers with water sports on the Congaree River the Broad River and the Saluda River. Major employers in the city include the Palmetto Health Hospital system and Fort Jackson, which is a U.S. Army Training Facility. Square D is a manufacturer here that produced industrial electrical and control products, but is headquartered in France. Michelin Tires, Westinghouse and Bose Corporation, makers of audio equipment are also active in the area.

South Carolina tourism is also doing well. Start with the white-sand beaches in Georgetown County. There is an annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament at Memorial Day, and lots of fishing after that as well. Historic Georgetown also has the Georgetown Landing Marina. The Myrtle Beach area has over 100 golf courses and is sort of a golf paradise. There's a big convention center here too. Other attractions on the coast are the Family kingdom Amusement Park and the Myrtle Waves Water Park. Much of the upcountry (Piedmont) region of the state is covered with forests. Upcountry there is also the Chattooga River, a favorite spot for whitewater kayaking, rafting and canoeing. Since it has a wild and scenic river designation, there is no motor boating allowed. Part of the river is on the South Carolina, Georgia border. Other activities in the area are swimming, hiking, fishing and camping, particularly in Table Rock State Park.