Mayor Linda Jeffrey hosts business roundtable with U.S. dignitaries
Bramptonguardian.com
April 18, 2016
By Peter Criscione
Boosting trade and selling plans to transform Brampton into a health sciences hub were among topics discussed during a meeting between community leaders and the U.S. consul general.
Mayor Linda Jeffrey, along with several city councillors and local business leaders, met with Juan Alsace for a roundtable discussion on strengthening business relations with Canada’s largest trading partner.
Brampton is home to a large manufacturing base. Of the 700 businesses that export goods, 74 per cent of them export to the United States.
Talks held at Alderlea April 14, touched on a range of topics, including bolstering existing partnerships and exploring opportunities in advanced manufacturing, human and health sciences sectors.
Transforming Brampton into a health services hub ranks among mayor Jeffrey’s key priories.
In a media release issued Friday, Alsace said the meeting highlighted “the important role that cities like Brampton play in a vibrant U.S. - Canadian economy” and offered an opportunity for participants to discuss “ways to advance growth and development in our economies and communities”.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey’s Mississauga counterpart, Bonnie Crombie is currently on a trade mission in Japan. Crombie’s trade mission includes meetings in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Kariya. Mississauga has more than 100 Japanese companies, making business retention and expansion an ongoing priority for the city.
Japan is the latest in a string of trips abroad for Crombie. She has taken part in missions to Brazil and India since becoming mayor in 2014.
In contrast, Jeffrey has so far opted to stay local. In January, Jeffrey turned down an opportunity to join Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne on a trade mission to India.
At the time, Jeffrey said Brampton's main focus is trade with the United States, where opportunities to grow in emerging sectors like health, infrastructure and energy are likely to produce results.
