Lots of interest in Markham on China trade mission: mayor

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 27, 2015

A delegation from Markham reports says it is hearing many expressions of interest in the city on tour in China as part of a trade mission.

Day 2 of Markham China Business Mission activities began with Mayor Frank Scarpitti and several delegation members participating in a briefing with Canadian Ambassador to China Guy Saint-Jacques and embassy consuls, the city said in a media release.

This was followed by a series of private meetings with business executives and Markham organizations before the group flew from Beijing to Shanghai for the next leg of the trip.

The morning briefing also included Councillor Alan Ho and Regional Councillor Nirmala Armstrong, along with city staff and five other members of the delegation.

The media release from the city stated that Saint-Jacques congratulated the mayor on Markham’s success in attracting significant investment of major Chinese technology companies - Huawei, Lenovo and China Telcom - and encouraged Markham to pursue expansion of infrastructure and design firms into China.

The balance of the morning’s private meetings were with Chinese companies interested in entering and expanding into the Canadian market, as well as with organizations seeking strategic alliances and joint venture opportunities.

Mayor and councillors visited Bank of China W0orld Headquarters where they met with bank executives including the executive vice-president in charge of all the bank’s international operations.

They also met with two high-tech businesses: a large British investment firm with operations in 35 Chinese cities and a U.S. software developer with extensive offices in China. Both companies confirmed their interest in establishing businesses in Markham, according to the media release.

“It is exciting to experience the high level of interest of companies in China seeking expansion into Markham,” Scarpitti said.

The mayor and two councillors flew to Shanghai to prepare for three days of marketing activities.

Markham China Mission 2015 consists of a 35-member business delegation, led by Mayor Scarpitti, that departed for its 14-day mission to China on Nov. 21.

The objectives are to further strengthen and promote economic, business and cultural ties between Canada and China through participation in a series of business meetings and events, briefings on business opportunities in Canada and China, as well as sector information sharing on both countries.

In addition, Scarpitti and the delegation will visit major industrial and economic development zones in China and meet with key dignitaries.

The mayor, Councillor Armstrong and Regional Councillor Joe Li along with city staff are also scheduled take part in a 10-day business mission to India in January.