Media Release
Report Says Major Canadian Cities are Key in Attracting Foreign Investment to Canada
May 17, 2012: Winnipeg, MB – The Conference Board of Canada has published a report outlining the significant role that Canada’s 11 largest cities play in attracting investment to grow Canada’s economy. According to the report, titled The Role of Canada’s Major Cities in Attracting Foreign Direct Investment, Canada’s major cities deserve a seat at the table with their national and provincial counterparts when policies and strategies to attract FDI are developed.
Canada’s 11 largest census metropolitan areas, including Winnipeg, are working together as the Consider Canada City Alliance Inc. Collectively, the 11 cities have a greater share of national inward FDI stock than their share of national GDP. Their goal is to strategize and work together to help foreign companies choose Canada as a place to invest and grow; to work collaboratively on issues related to national economic development; and to share best practices.
“Rather than compete with other cities across Canada to attract investment, we are all looking for ways to collaborate and strategically promote the country as a superior investment destination,” said Marina R. James, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. “Our collective efforts will benefit the entire country and raise our profile amongst key international audiences.”
The Consider Canada City Alliance is launching its first investment mission at the end of May in partnership with Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. A group of 15 Canadian representatives, from eight of the 11 Consider Canada City Alliance members, will visit three cities in China - Beijing, Chongqing and Guangzhou - over six days. Representatives from Economic Development Winnipeg Inc., and its Yes! Winnipeg business development team, will be participating in this mission to represent Winnipeg as an investment destination.
The objective of the mission is to showcase the Canadian value proposition and present specific investment opportunities in the Information and Communication Technology , and Energy and Environment sectors. With the emphasis placed on innovation and outward investment in the new five year plan for China, the Consider Canada City Alliance and Invest in Canada are looking to capitalize on their collaborative investor support services to place Canada at a competitive advantage in capturing that new investment.
“This mission to China is an important opportunity for Winnipeg to leverage its membership in the Consider Canada City Alliance, promote the city as an investment destination, showcase our regional advantages and increase our profile in the Chinese market,” said Greg Dandewich, senior vice president of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc.
ConsiderCanada.com and CanadaEntete.com provide information about business in Canada as well as specific information about each of the city partners: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Waterloo Region, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax.
The Role of Canada’s Major Cities in Attracting Foreign Direct Investment report can be found here
About Economic Development Winnipeg Inc.
Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. (EDW) is a not-for-profit organization that leads and facilitates investment, partnership, capacity building, tourism and the management of market information. EDW leads global business attraction, and local business retention and expansion with its Yes! Winnipeg business development team, facilitates targeted sector development, and promotes Winnipeg’s diverse economy and high quality of life. Through its Tourism Winnipeg division, EDW also facilitates a healthy, prosperous, responsible and fully-integrated tourism industry that further enhances the city of Winnipeg’s economic growth.
Led by a private sector board with core funding from the City of Winnipeg and Province of Manitoba, EDW promotes Winnipeg as an ideal place to live, work, invest and visit.
www.economicdevelopmentwinnipeg.com
For further information please contact:
Aimee Goyer
Project Manager, Marketing & Communications
Economic Development Winnipeg Inc.
Phone: 204.954.1993
Email:
aimee@economicdevelopmentwinnipeg.com
