April 23, 2015
The City of Toronto today presented an export industry event called Global Trade – Market Update involving various private and public sector participants, to encourage businesses to sell Toronto abroad. Growing Toronto’s economy and bringing more jobs to this city is the responsibility of both the City of Toronto and businesses. Today’s event provided businesses with the resources they need to make investment and export decisions.
Mayor John Tory launched the event, providing opening remarks along with Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the City's Economic Development Committee.
"I am committed to selling Toronto abroad and creating an economic environment that creates more good, well-paying jobs,” said Mayor Tory. "Here in Toronto, we are both the financial and innovation centre of Canada, and we’re ready to help businesses advance their exporting capabilities and open up new markets around the world."
The event also included remarks by the Honourable Maxime Bernier (Minister of State, Small Business and Tourism/Agriculture), an export product announcement by Google Canada's Managing Director Sam Sebastian and a panel organized by Google Canada.
“Toronto’s entrepreneurs are truly global – they are exporting to markets all over the world and that’s why we are helping to secure market access for their goods and services,” said Minister of State Bernier. “Our government is opening the European and South Korean markets and we will continue to give Canada’s small and medium-sized enterprises a priority on trade missions abroad.”
"The City needs to increase its presence in international markets to attract foreign investment and create trade opportunities for local companies," said Councillor Thompson. "Building and leveraging overseas relationships is an essential first step to establishing Toronto as a viable and competitive player on the international stage."
Other speakers included representatives of the Asia Pacific Foundation, Export Development Canada, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Scotiabank, Toronto Research Chemicals Inc. and UPS Canada.
Jan De Silva, President and CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, was the event's host. The event is part of the City of Toronto's export development series.
The City's export initiatives are part of the recommendations contained in the City's economic growth plan Collaborating for Competitiveness: A Strategic Plan to Accelerate Economic Growth and Job Creation in Toronto, which was endorsed by Council in 2013.
Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit
http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.
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Media contact: Shane Gerard, Strategic Communications, 416-397-5711, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
