Vaughan's Location as Economic Gateway Front and Centre During China Trade Mission

“China represents a tremendous business opportunity in terms of growth and investment,” said Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. “We know that the process of entering into the Chinese market begins with developing face-to-face relationships. In order to establish Vaughan as a world class city, we must continue to reach beyond our own borders to broaden the scope of our potential. We live in a global economy, and to achieve continued growth for our business community here at home we must increase our presence on the international stage.”

The trade mission was organized and led by the Confederation of Greater Toronto Chinese Business Association (CGTCBA). It included a 71-member delegation with members from a number of GTA municipalities. The City of Vaughan was represented by Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor Gino Rosati, Ward 4 Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco, Executive Director Tim Simmonds and Senior Manager of Economic Development Shirley Kam. Also participating in the CGTCBA Business Mission was Mr. Will Sung, President of the Vaughan Chinese Business Council.

The trade mission included visits to Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Xuzhou and Zibo, as well as meetings with local economic development agencies and business associations. In Zibo, a city of approximately 4.5 million, Vaughan signed a Letter of Intent establishing a framework for economic cooperation which would see both cities lending assistance and support to Chinese businesses using the GTA as a platform to launch into the North American marketplace. Zibo’s local economy is particularly strong in ceramics manufacturing, as well as the petrochemical industry, pharmaceuticals, metallurgy, building materials, machinery and textiles.

Other highlights of the trade mission included:

• Participation at the Economic and Business Development Forum in Beijing, attended by approximately 80 different businesses, where a 3D video animation about the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC), entitled It’ll Move You, was a feature presentation.

• A briefing on the West Kowloon Cultural District, a $2.7 billion (U.S.) project to develop a new arts and cultural hub in Hong Kong, which provided examples of best practices that could be incorporated into the VMC as Vaughan’s creative and cultural centre.
  
• A meeting with the Canadian Ambassador to China, Guy Saint-Jacques, for a briefing on the political and economic directions shaping China’s trade and future development.

• Talks with a large Chinese advanced manufacturing company considering the City of Vaughan as a location for its next major expansion in manufacturing and distribution.

“The City of Vaughan’s Economic Development Strategy highlights the importance of international business development activities that support the growth of local businesses,” said City Manager Clayton Harris. “We’re actively promoting Vaughan’s location as a gateway for economic activity in the GTA and looking for best practices that will advance a number a specific employment areas of the City, notably the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and the Vaughan Enterprise Zone.”

The City of Vaughan has had an active presence in China for a number of years. In addition to a Friendship City Agreement with Yangzhou, the City has undertaken a number of business missions to key economic centres in China, including the Changning District in Shanghai and the City of Yiwu in Zhejiang Province. 

 

Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor Gino Rosati, left, and Vice Mayor Zhang Qingying signing the Letter of Intent with Zibo, China.