Vaughan Chamber of Commerce eyes visit to the U.K. after Brexit

Brexit could open up business opportunities for Canadian business who want to reduce their U.S. export dependency

Yorkregion.com
March 2, 2020
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Brian Shifman, president and CEO of Vaughan Chamber of Commerce, has “secured business” after the trade board’s first business mission in Israel in its 43-year history last year, he said Tuesday, Feb. 25.

York Region Media is in the process of gauging the worth of deals made from the Israel trip.

Going abroad to open up business ventures and opportunities isn’t stopping as the chamber plans to visit the U.K., especially after Brexit, which could open up more opportunities for Canadians businesses, said Shifman during the Vaughan mayor’s 10th annual state of the city address.

Shifman said this year, the chamber is “also launching a trade accelerator program run through the World Trade Centre in Toronto.”

“This export development program, which we've named TAP Vaughan ... is the start of something that will enhance business opportunities and give our business community the tools they need to scale, roll and compete in a global market,” he added.

He pressed the need for Vaughan businesses to export even more and to diversify their export portfolio to reduce dependency on the U.S.

“So what this really is about, if you are not exporting, this is your opportunity to learn from the pros,” he said. “If you are exporting, you're probably exporting to the U.S. as most Canadian businesses are. This helps you look at other markets.”

In addition, the chamber is also “planning for a manufacturing summit in September.”

“It will be a first of its kind for our community,” he said. “It will truly engage your region’s manufacturing clusters,” he added, citing York Region as “the fifth largest manufacturing cluster in Canada.”