GTMA and EUCOCIT Establish A Bi-Lateral Alliance
To Promote Investment And Trade And Create Jobs In The GTA
Burlington, Ontario - September 18, 2009 - Lou Milrad, Chair & CEO, signed on behalf of the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance (GTMA), a Memorandum of Understanding with Christian D. Frayssignes, President of the European Chamber of Commerce in Toronto (EUCOCIT), that commits both organizations to establish a bi-lateral alliance to assist its respective partners and members identify and attract bi-lateral investment and trade opportunities.
 Shown left: Back L-R: Keith Hoey, President, Burlington Chamber of Commerce; Lou Milrad, Chair & CEO GTMA; George Fierheller, President, Four Halls Inc. (GTMA Chair Emeritus); Front L-R: Mayor Cam Jackson, City of Burlington (GTMA Board Member); Christian D. Frayssignes, President, EUCOCIT; Mayor David Ryan, City of Pickering (GTMA Board Member)
The European Union and the Government of Canada have been actively working towards deeper bi-lateral trade relationships and the removal of barriers to investment between Canada and the EU. A negotiation process is underway and will culminate within two-years in a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) of a broader scope than NAFTA. The Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade has also been active in establishing relationships to attract investment from Europe.
As organizations committed to greater economic cooperation and the attraction of investment to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), both the GTMA and EUCOCIT thought it important to establish a formal working arrangement that will help us take advantage of the opportunities that CETA will bring.
“I believe that a relationship between the GTMA and EUCOCIT will be of benefit to our partners: municipalities, colleges and universities, and private sector. Most importantly, our combined efforts will bring investment and jobs to the GTA. In fact, the GTMA has a Business Sales trip going to Europe in October 2009,” said Lou Milrad.
“We are excited by this partnership, and we look forward to closely working with the GTMA and its members to help create investment opportunities for European companies and investors,” said Mr. Frayssignes.
“This is just one more example of the important strategic alliances that the GTMA creates on behalf of member municipalities and our private-sector and institutional partners. I, and I know other GTA mayors, look forward to seeing many European investors and companies coming through Burlington and other GTA municipalities looking for investment opportunities, new markets and partnerships. This initiative, and others like it, will create jobs in the GTA,” said Cam Jackson, Mayor of Burlington and host of today’s GTMA Board meeting.
About the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance
The Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance (GTMA) is a public-private partnership that serves as the key point of contact for businesses exploring opportunities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The partnership brings together the 29 municipalities and regions in the Greater Toronto Area, the governments of Ontario and Canada, several not-for-profit organizations, colleges and universities, and a broad cross section of private sector corporations (collectively called “GTMA Stakeholders”).
About EUCOCIT
EUCOCIT, a non-profit organization representing World’s Largest Economy - 30% share of the world's nominal gross domestic product (US$16.8 trillion in 2007) and the largest investor in the world (51% of foreign investment)—with almost half a billion people via the European Chambers of Commerce in Canada and 2000 regional and local Chambers in Europe.
For more information, please contact
Tony Romano, Director Corporate Affairs
Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance
(416) 360-5758 • tromano@greatertoronto.org
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