Ontario Trade Mission to China and Hong Kong a Success

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty declared his recent trade mission to China and Hong Kong a success, describing it as a major step towards increased trade and investment with one of the world's fastest growing economies.

"This has been a major step forward for Ontario, one that has tremendous potential for jobs and opportunity for Ontarians," the Premier said as the 12-day trade mission wrapped up November 15.

The Premier led a delegation of more than 125 Ontarians, representing businesses, universities and colleges, municipalities, agricultural organizations and medical research institutions, to Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Nanjing and Hong Kong.

Prior to the trade mission’s departure, Ontario Economic Development and Trade Minister Joseph Cordiano was briefed by the HKETO Director, Mr. Bassanio So, on Hong Kong’s important role as the gateway to the Mainland China market. 

Mr. So encouraged the Ontario delegates to collaborate with the research facilities and expertise in Hong Kong to service the Mainland China market, especially the booming Pearl River Delta area. Mr. So and Minister 
Cordiano also exchanged views on possible future collaboration between Hong Kong and Ontario in the areas of life sciences, auto parts and IT industries.

The trade mission’s activities in Hong Kong included:

• Speeches by Mr. McGuinty to leading business groups and meetings with top investors, including Li Ka Shing, Chairman of Cheung Kong Holdings Ltd.

• Business roundtables and seminars, matching Ontario businesses and institutions with potential partners in China and Hong Kong

• Signing of more than 30 agreements between Ontario businesses, educators, and health providers, etc. and their Chinese and Hong Kong counterparts. Mount Sinai Hospital of Toronto signed an agreement to pursue joint genomics research with the University of Hong Kong.

"These agreements are significant, but they represent just the start of what we can accomplish in China and Hong Kong," said Joe Cordiano, Minister of Economic Development and Trade.

"For too much of the last decade, Ontario was missing in action on the world economic stage. Thanks to the Premier's leadership, we've turned that situation around. This mission has put Ontario's interests front and centre, here in one the world's biggest and most dynamic markets."

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