Mayor Bevilacqua Takes the Vaughan Advantage to Israel
Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua met with the Mayor of the Eilot Regional Council and other key stakeholders during day three of a seven-day business mission in Israel that began on Sept. 28.
Over the course of the first two days, Vaughan delegates have toured through some of the most advanced solar and water energy projects in the world and met with more than 20 companies in pre-arranged one-on-one meetings, including PowerCom smart metering and Panago parking systems. There have also been meetings with Israeli colleges and universities that are interested in forming long-term partnerships with Centennial College and York University, which are both participating in the mission.
“The City of Vaughan is poised for great success and we need to bring our message to an international audience in order to allow the City to take its place on the global stage as a premier destination for business,” said Mayor Bevilacqua. “The new world economy calls for new approaches, new ideas and new directions for economic prosperity, and our goal is to form new partnerships to drive the economic agenda forward and become a city known for its economic leadership.”
Mayor Bevilacqua also addressed a business audience in Haifa, the largest city in northern Israel, as part of the business mission. His presentation focused on ‘The Vaughan Advantage,’ highlighting the City’s goal of becoming the gateway to the Greater Toronto economic region. He discussed Vaughan’s accessibility to world markets, central location in the Greater Toronto Area, proximity to major highways and the country’s busiest airport, low taxes, and a diverse and well-educated population.
The business mission, which will conclude on Oct. 6, is centered in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem and includes 23 participants representing 21 different companies.
The mission is led by Mayor Bevilacqua and includes Ward 2 Councillor Tony Carella and Ward 5 Councillor Alan Shefman, as well as business and educational representatives from Vaughan and the GTA. The City has partnered with the United Jewish Appeal Federation (UJA), the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the Government of Israel Economic Mission to Canada, Canada Israel Chamber of Commerce and ColdSpring Commerce to organize a series of activities designed to achieve a high return on investment for all the business mission participants.
Participating organizations include Groundheat Systems Inc., SLG Consulting, Renewables and Energy Savings, Centennial College, York University, Elias Custom Metal Fabrication Ltd., Mircom Group of Companies, Canadian Gift Concepts/ABA Science Play, Gulf & Pacific Equities Corp., CompuOffice Software Inc., ColdSpring Commerce, Bond Street Mercantile, Domir Blinds Manufacturing Inc., Gulf and Pacific Equities Corp., and Hughes Decorr.