By Ian Ross
Northern Ontario manufacturers can get a first-hand glimpse next spring of the eye-popping economic growth in China.
The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce and the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation have set it’s sights on the Canton Trade Fair as part of a two-week trade mission in April 2007.
The Chinese Export Commodities Fair, also called the Canton Fair, has been held in the spring and fall each year since 1957.
The fair spans the range of exportable goods from souvenirs to textiles to heavy equipment.
Don Mitchell, an event organizer and former chamber president, got a view of what China has to offer earlier this year while overseas on a trade mission organized through the St. Lawrence Seaway Commission.
“When I saw what was happening in person, I thought this is something our community has to get involved in.”
Though it started out as a Sault-led trade mission, organizers are leaving the door for any Northern Ontario business to participate and investigate import-export opportunities.
The April 13-28 2007 trips includes visits to China’s financial and industrial heartland with stops in Hong Kong, Guangzhou (site of the Canton Fair), Shenzhen, Shanghai, Nanjing and Beijing.
Far East experts PBB Global Logistics/ Livingstone International will led the mission and will arrange one-on-one meetings between potential business partners.
The Toronto-based trade professionals have organized more than 50 trade missions to China since the early 1990’s.
Mitchell says there’s tentative interest from 42 people representing 30 Sault businesses. But he anticipates that potential delegate list may drop as the trip nears.
The trip fee is $10,000 per person which includes air fare, four-star hotel accommodation, meals, transportation and interpretive services. Registration is being done through the Sault Chamber of Commerce.
But it’s not all business, says Mitchell. Mixed in will be three to four days of sightseeing including visits to the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square.
For details contact the chamber at 705-949-7152.
