Ontario Trade Mission Focuses on Automotive Investment

Premier McGuinty Attends Contract Signing, Addresses Business Audience

November 10, 2005 — SHANGHAI — Ontario’s trade mission to China today included a roundtable dialogue with Chinese companies and officials that focused on the opportunities for Ontario’s leading-edge auto industry to participate in the rapid growth of the sector in China.

“Ontario’s trade mission to China is giving us the chance to come to one of the world’s largest markets and highlight our economic advantages,” said Premier McGuinty. “Today, we told China’s rapidly growing auto industry that Ontario is open for business — and open to two-way investment with China.”

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China is considered the world’s largest potential auto market, with robust growth expected to continue over the next decade. Today’s automotive roundtable included representatives from Shanghai Automotive Industries Corporation, Ford China, GM China and parts makers such as Magna China, Linamar Corporation and Meridian Automotive Systems.

The trade mission includes more than 125 people from approximately 100 organizations, representing private sector companies, universities and colleges, municipalities, agricultural organizations and medical research institutions. Members of Ontario’s trade mission delegation participated in contract signings with Chinese partners that included partnerships in architecture and design, broadband services and educational programs.

Minister of Economic Development and Trade Joseph Cordiano also met with Chinese officials and spoke to Chinese and Ontario business leaders about the benefits of partnerships between the two jurisdictions.

“We’re encouraging Chinese companies looking to expand to North America to consider Ontario as a base — because Ontario is a gateway to North America,” said Cordiano.

The Premier also delivered a keynote address to the Ontario International Marketing Centre Banquet Dinner, where he emphasized the progress made on the mission and the advantages of increasing Ontario’s partnerships in China.

“Our work in China revolves around the three themes of education, innovation and two-way investment,” said Premier McGuinty. “We believe, if we work together with our friends and partners in China, we can learn from each other, innovate together and build prosperity for people in Ontario and in China.”

Backgrounder

Premier Dalton McGuinty is leading an Ontario trade mission in China to stress the themes of education, innovation and investment. Ontario's delegation includes more than 125 people from approximately 100 organizations, representing private sector companies, universities and colleges, municipalities, agricultural organizations and medical research institutions.

Members of Ontario's delegation participated in signing agreements with Chinese officials in Shanghai that included partnerships in architecture and design, broadband services and educational programs.

Ontario's Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is entering into the following:

• An agreement with Nanjing University of Technology to offer advanced standing at Algonquin to Nanjing students from selected programs of study.
• An agreement with Fuyang no. 1 Middle School that will place Canadian English teachers from Algonquin at the school to teach English-as-a-second language (ESL) to senior high school students. After graduation, these students will continue their education at Algonquin College.
• An agreement with Don-Zhan Educational Development Co. Ltd. that will deliver an ESL program in Shanghai to corporate executives and students wishing to improve their English in preparation for studies abroad.
• An agreement with the Multimedia School at Shanghai University to share Algonquin's animation curriculum. Students at Shanghai University will receive Algonquin College accreditation and the option to transfer to Algonquin.
• An agreement with Shandong Jiaotong University.

Ontario's Centre for Education and Training is entering into the following:

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Hong Kou Civic District that will deliver professional development language training to Chinese teachers who teach English in Hong Kou District and Shanghai in China, and in Mississauga, Ontario. This agreement will also include the delivery of children's vacation school language camps in the same locations and the development of an environmental science curriculum and E-learning system to support English language studies.
• An agreement with the Tianjin Tanggu District School Board that will deliver professional development language training to Chinese teachers who teach English in Tanggu District and Tianjin in China, and in Mississauga, Ontario. They are also agreeing to the delivery of children's vacation school language camps in the same locations.
• An agreement with the Tianjin Institute of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade that will deliver English language assessment services and English language training.

In the architecture and design sector, Ontario firms are entering into the following:

• An agreement between Ontario-based Bregmann and Hamann (B+H) Architects Ltd. and Yuexing Group to design the Shanghai Universal Home Decoration Exposition Center, the largest retail furniture shopping centre in Asia. B+H Architects has had a presence in Shanghai for 15 years.
• An agreement between Ontario-based BTI Photonic Systems Inc. and Alcatel Chengdu Communications that will see BTI provide Alcatel-branded versions of BTI's Netstender system to Alcatel Chengdu for sale in China.

Ontario-based VisImage Systems Inc. has also announced the release of the Chinese edition of the BoSS-21, a tool that measures the human body and recommends correct garment and equipment sizes. The system is currently being used by the Canadian Forces.

For more information:

Premier’s Media Office
416-314-8975

www.premier.gov.on.ca
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca