Opening Doors to Global Opportunities for Ontario Businesses
Today Premier Kathleen Wynne met with nearly 70 businesses and academic leaders from across the province who will join her third business mission to China and the first-ever Ontario Premier-led mission to Vietnam later this month.
The Ontario delegation will accompany the Premier in Nanjing, Shenzhen and Chongqing in China, as well as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam. This year’s delegates represent a wide range of sectors, including medical technologies, science and technology, and agri-food. They will meet with Chinese and Vietnamese businesses to forge partnerships and sign agreements that will expand their businesses, drive innovation, and create jobs and economic growth in Ontario.
As part of Ontario’s strategy to grow and diversify international trade, this mission will open doors for Ontario businesses looking to expand internationally, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in the global economy, deepen their trade relationships and continue to contribute to our province’s culture of innovation.
Providing more opportunities for Ontario businesses to expand into the global marketplace is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.
Quick Facts
- Over 100 business and academic delegates will join the Premier on her mission to China and Vietnam.
- The Premier’s international missions to date have secured more than 265 agreements valued at over $4.2 billion to Ontario’s economy, creating nearly 4,000 jobs in Ontario.
- In 2011, two-way trade between Ontario and Vietnam was just $700 million. In 2016 it had reached more than $3 billion.
- China is Ontario’s second-largest trading partner — two-way trade has grown by nearly 40 per cent over the past five years.
- According to the Conference Board of Canada, every $100 million increase in exports creates 1,000 new jobs.
Additional Resources
Quotes
“We know international trade is vital to Ontario’s strength. When our businesses succeed, it creates opportunity for workers and families in communities across our province. As Premier, I believe we need to do everything we can to make sure our businesses can compete on the global stage. I look forward to supporting our delegates on this mission as they uncover new opportunities to attract investment and create good jobs here in Ontario.”
“I am pleased to be accompanying Premier Wynne as she leads this business mission to China and, for the first time, to Vietnam, to promote Ontario’s vibrant and innovative industries and sectors. Missions like this are crucial for Ontario businesses as they work to diversify their exports and make valuable international connections. I look forward to supporting our delegates as they create new opportunities to grow their trade and support a stronger provincial economy for Ontarians.”
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