September 25th, 2017 by WCBC Radio
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan will join Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser for a two-day joint tourism and economic development mission to Canada. As part of the joint mission, which kicks off tomorrow, Governor Hogan, Governor McAuliffe, and Mayor Bowser will meet with the Province of Ontario’s Premier Kathleen Wynne in Toronto, and then attend a reception at the residence of U.S. Consul General Juan Alsace. Following the joint mission in Ontario, Governor Hogan will lead a Maryland delegation on a two-day economic development mission to Montreal.
“Canada is not only the largest trading partner for the Capital Region, but we also share a commitment to entrepreneurship, innovation, and high-growth industries like cybersecurity, life sciences, and aerospace and defense,” said Governor Hogan. “We are confident this mission will strengthen our regional partnerships and encourage even more trade and investment, as well as spur new opportunities for Canadians to tour the Capital Region.”
“Missions like these are a crucial component of our efforts to market our region's world-class tourist attractions, products, and services,” said Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe. “More than 902,000 Canadians visited the Capital Region in 2015, spending over $384 million – a 21 percent increase from 2013 visitor spending from the country. I am looking forward to this opportunity to work with our regional partners to grow those numbers and bring more jobs and opportunity back to the National Capital Region."
“Through this mission, we will be able to work together as a region to promote tourism between the DC region and Canada, expand inclusive innovation, and grow our global investment market,” said District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser. “I am honored to represent the nation’s capital where we have a thriving tourism industry and one of the strongest local economies in the United States. As a region, we look forward to ushering in a new era of bilateral cooperation between the United States and Canada.”
In addition to joint Capital Region meetings, Governor Hogan and Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill will spend a total of four days meeting with more than a dozen Canadian companies and business organizations to promote Maryland as an ideal U.S. location for tourism, trade, and investment. In Toronto, the governor will address cybersecurity and technology companies at a breakfast organized by the Information Technology Association of Canada, which champions the development of a sustainable digital economy in Canada. He will also visit MaRS, the world’s largest urban innovation hub which serves as a launch pad for startups, a platform for researchers, and a home to innovators.
Governor Hogan will then travel to Montreal to meet with the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations, a non-partisan private organization that works to facilitate greater partnership between the Montreal community and international partners. Governor Hogan will also address members of the Chamber of Commerce Metropolitan Montreal, the city’s largest business organization.
The National Capital Region and Canada have a strong and robust partnership. Canada ranks 1st among U.S. export destinations. In addition, Canada exports more to Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. combined than it does to Germany, France, or any European Union country, with the exception of the United Kingdom. Additionally, in 2015, 900,000 Canadians visited Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. and spent $385 million according to data from Stats Canada and Tourism Economics.
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