Blog : Ragazou

TORONTO ? Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has announced that he will lead a trade mission to Israel and the West Bank in May. CJN

Premier Dalton McGuinty; Minister of Economic Development and Trade Sandra Pupatello; and Monte Kwinter, MPP for York Centre and parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, visit Quanser Inc., a leader in the innovation and development of advanced control systems for industry. The premier announced  he will lead a trade mission to Israel and the West Bank in May to boost trade and investment and build opportunity for Ontario businesses.

The trip, from May 24 to 27, will include stops in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ramallah and Bethlehem. A press release said the mission would expand the province's research co-operation with Israel and build more economic partnerships in health care, as well as enabling Ontario to tap into Israel's ?expertise in turning good high-tech ideas into good high-tech jobs.?

In 2008, two-way goods traded between Ontario and Israel totalled almost $1.1 billion, an increase of 86 per cent from 2004, according to the release. Ontario's exports to Israel have grown by more than 70 per cent since 2004, it stated.

At a press conference last Thursday at Quanser Consulting Inc. ? a Markham robotic and mechatronic systems manufacturing company that was involved in a recent project with a company from Israel in the medical sector ? McGuinty said he looks forward ?to visiting Israel and the West Bank and promoting Ontario's world-class medical research and development.

?This is an important market for Ontario and this trade mission will strengthen cultural and commercial ties while creating jobs for Ontarians.?

As part of a question-and-answer session, McGuinty said he believes ?we have a special responsibility as Ontarians and Canadians to always maintain linkages and build on community values.

?It's my first trip to the Middle East. I think it's high time... and I'm very much looking forward to it.?

The premier noted that this mission and previous ones to countries like India, China and Japan serve to ?enhance trade ties and seek more investment here in Ontario.?