Our 2017 Economic Development Office (EDO) Investment Mission to Japan is an important opportunity to strengthen relations with a leading target market for Mississauga and to continue our ongoing efforts to attract and retain foreign-direct investment (FDI) opportunities here at home, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said today from Pearson Airport as she was preparing to depart for Japan.
Mayor Crombie is leading an EDO Investment Mission to Japan, with meetings scheduled in Tokyo and Nagoya from September 25-29. Meetings will be held with government officials, along with businesses from Mississauga’s industry clusters, with an emphasis on aerospace and advanced manufacturing. Mayor Crombie will be joined by representatives from the Ontario and federal governments and EDO Manager of Business Investment and Client Services, Harold Dremin.
“I also look forward to delivering a keynote address during the Aeromart Conference in Nagoya, a global gathering of aerospace industry giants,” Mayor Crombie said. “In attendance will be representatives from 20 different countries and 250 different companies.” The Aeromart Conference also boasts opportunities for 3,500 business to business meetings.
Mississauga is Canada’s largest aerospace cluster by employment. The aerospace industry employs over 24,000 people in over 220 aerospace companies. Pearson International Airport – Canada’s largest airport – is located in Mississauga.
“Japan ties with Germany for the largest market for capital investment in Mississauga (after the United States),” Mayor Crombie said. “Mississauga is home to nearly 100 Japanese companies, representing nearly half of all Japanese companies located in Ontario. We are proud that Mississauga is home to a number of globally-respected, successful and leading Japanese-based companies.”
This will mark Mayor Crombie’s second Investment Mission to Japan. “Like Hazel McCallion, I am committed to building on the already thoughtful, strong and important working relationship Mississauga enjoys with Japanese businesses,” Mayor Crombie said.
Improving Mississauga-Japanese economic and cultural relations has been an ongoing priority of Mayor Crombie. Past meetings, events and opportunities include:
- March 2015 – Mayor Crombie launches the Mississauga International Partnership Program Committee (MIPP) – a working group dedicated to attracting and retaining FDI
- November 2015 – Mayor Crombie meets Japanese Consul General Yasunori Nakayama
- March 2016 – Mayor Crombie meets with executives from Japanese-based Panasonic
- April 2016 – Mayor Crombie undertakes first EDO Investment Mission to Japan
- July 2016 – Mayor Crombie Hosts Kariya Mayor Yoshinori Takenaka to mark 35th anniversary of the Mississauga-Kariya sister city relationship and Canada Day festivities
- February 2017 – Mayor Crombie meets Canada’s new Ambassador to Japan, Ian Burney
- June 2017 – Mayor Crombie meets with Katsuko Kuroiwa, Japanese Life Sciences Trade Commissioner during 2017 Biotechnology Innovation Organization BIO International Convention
- June 2017 – Mayor Crombie joins MHI Canada Aerospace, which operates an assembly plant in Malton, to promote the company’s Structural Airplane Apprentice Program
- July 2017 – Mayor Crombie meets NTN Bearing Corporation President & CEO Paul Meo and Vice President Seiji Shimamoto to discuss advance manufacturing and mark the company’s 100th anniversary
- August 2017 – Japan Festival Canada held at Celebration Square
My first diplomatic meeting as mayor was with Japanese Consul General Yasunori Nakayama, Mayor Crombie said, adding that Consul General Nakayama was a special guest at the Mayor’s 2017 State of the City Address on Tuesday, September 19.
“This proved to be an important first step in a journey to further strengthen economic and cultural relations with the people of Japan. I wish Consul General Nakayama the very best as he moves to new opportunities later this month. I look forward to working closely with his predecessor.”
“Japanese companies are innovative companies and industry leaders. Each day professionals develop new ways to deliver improved services,” Mayor Crombie said. “I look forward to once again reiterating how Mississauga will work with business executives to find opportunities to better understand Canada’s positive business climate and explore opportunities for expansion in North America”.
“When Japan succeeds, Mississauga succeeds,” Mayor Crombie concluded.
