Event explores Ontario trade opportunities
Ontario 's position as a gateway for trading in North America was explored during an event hosted by Greater Birmingham Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce.
Sophia Arvanitis, Ontario 's Agent-General to the United Kingdom, delivered a keynote address on why companies are flocking to Canada 's most populous province to launch North American operations.
The event was held on Tuesday, 25 April at the Birmingham city centre offices of PR firm Liquid.
Ms Arvanitis provided an overview of Ontario 's key sectors and areas of opportunity for UK companies, including ways to tap into its talents, market access to Canada and the United States, competitive business environment and its stable growth.
She explained how the sector focus in Ontario is very aligned with the West Midlands including advanced manufacturing, life sciences, clean technology and Information technology where there is a strong representation in all sectors and industries.
In 2021, Ontario and United Kingdom total trade was valued at CAD$16.3 billion. Ontario's imports were valued at CAD$3.0 billion and exports CAD$13.2 billion.
Ms Arvanitis also went on to deliver evidence of Ontario 's economic success and political stability. An area of real synergy with the West Midlands region was the innovation ecosystem. Ontario has the largest concentration of innovation incubators, and also has a food cluster with 49,600 farms and food and beverage delivers CAD$12.5 billion.
Among Ontario's trading partners, the United Kingdom ranks No.2 in exports and has a 5.5 per cent share of the province's total exports.
It also ranks No.14 in imports and has a 0.8 per cent share of the province's total imports.
The event also heard from Elisabeth Lewis-Jones and the work of her company Liquid a global, integrated and award-winning creative consultancy whose connections with Canada stem from providing marketing and creative consultancy for the Qu�bec Maple Syrup Producers.
Members that attended the event included Curium Solutions, KPMG, Alwayse Engineering Ltd and Carian Wines who were also given a summary of support from the international team at the Chamber, to help at every step of the trade journey.
Delegates heard about translation and interpreting, training, logistics and documentation processes as well as information on the support available through innovate UK EDGE by the team based at the Chamber.
For further information on any of the topics covered above, contact [email protected]
Pictured from left to right: CEO Liquid PR Elisabeth Lewis-Jones, Ontario Province Agent-General to the UK Sophia Arvanitis, and Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce international director Mandy Haque.