OTTAWA, ON, FEB. 5, 2015 – Representing the economic development initiatives of Vancouver, Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, London, Waterloo Region, Toronto, Ottawa, Greater Montréal, Québec City and Halifax, the members of the Consider Canada City Alliance (CCCA) met in Ottawa on February 3rd and 4th, 2015 to plan their 2015 activities, building on their common investment attraction objectives. This bi-annual meeting also served as an opportunity to elect the new CCCA Board of Directors led by Chair Carl Viel, CEO of Québec International, Vice-Chair Ian McKay, CEO of Vancouver Economic Commission, and Bruce Graham, CEO of Calgary Economic Development.
Since its inception in 2012, CCCA members have collectively promoted Canada as an ideal destination for global trade and investment. Activities focus on generating awareness, attracting investment leads, encouraging companies to visit Canada, and developing potential innovation partnerships and investment prospects. Major initiatives in 2014 included two joint missions to key markets with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD). The first mission undertaken was to Japan and Taiwan, from February 25th to March 4th and the second to Europe (which included visits to Belgium, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, and Germany) from October 29th to November 7th, 2014.
The CCCA has benefited from the expertise and extended network of an embedded trade commissioner from DFATD since August of last year. This has led to a better understanding of each city’s unique advantages with regard to FDI opportunities. The embedded trade commissioner represents a valuable resource to the regions as a direct liaison to DFATD, the in-market trade commissioners abroad, and the department’s sector specialists. Last fall, CCCA members also took advantage of an opportunity to meet with the members of the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC), a select clientele of American investors. Held at the same time as the fall CCCA meeting in Québec City on September 15th and 16th, it was the first time the IAMC Forum had ever been hosted outside of the United States.
In 2015, the group will continue its unique collaborative approach to promoting Canada and its regions’ competitive advantages in new markets and to share best practices in investment attraction. Continuing to work closely with DFATD, the CCCA will participate in an investment mission to Miami and Brazil from February 23rd to March 2nd, 2015, will have a presence at the Game Developer Conference in San Francisco from March 2nd to 6th and will lead an investment mission to China from March 23rd to 27th. A return mission to Europe is also planned for mid-fall 2015 to enhance the CCCA’s visibility in that important market.
“All these initiatives support our strategy to diversify the source of foreign direct investments in the major Canadian cities. By sharing our knowledge and know-how and by working closely with DFATD, we help raise the profile of Canada as a global destination for business,” stated Carl Viel, the incoming Chair of the CCCA.
About the Consider Canada City Alliance
As a united front, Canada’s large cities – Vancouver, Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, London, Waterloo Region, Toronto, Ottawa, Greater Montréal, Québec City and Halifax – help international companies determine the best strategies for business expansion and continually improve Canada’s ability to attract new investment and trade opportunities. For more information on the Consider Canada City Alliance, please visit www.considercanada.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Liz Zhang
Projects and Communications
Consider Canada City Alliance
Phone: (613) 828-6274, ext.202 - Email: lzhang@considercanada.com
