Canada's rail and transport industries look to Midlands, UK for ideas

Business leaders from across the Atlantic gathered in Birmingham to showcase trade and investment opportunities in Canada's rail and transport industries.

Jointly organised by the High Commission of Canada in London and the UK’s Department for International Trade, the Canada Infrastructure Forum 2020 was split into three sessions that showcased opportunities in Western Canada, Ontario and Quebec.

The forum featured delegates from a range of Canadian businesses engaged in the transport sector and representatives from the Canadian government and universities.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub, which is funded by Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and the European Regional Development Fund, was represented at the event by account manager Justine Chadwick and business engagement and strategic development executive Sarah Gambrall.

Justine said: “The forum was a great opportunity to find out more about transport-related projects across the whole of Canada.

“We were given an insight into a range of ongoing programmes and the Canadian delegation also highlighted potential trade and inward investment opportunities in the country.

“Coventry and Warwickshire is home to an array of innovative transport-related companies. My colleagues and I look forward to meeting with businesses across the region and providing them with information about how they can register as suppliers and apply for requests for quotations in Canada.”

Sarah said: “The CWLEP Growth Hub is always looking at ways that we can raise the profile of companies in Coventry and Warwickshire and the forum was an excellent chance to make the Canadian delegation aware of the cutting-edge businesses in our region.

“It was also really valuable to get an insight into the kind of transport and infrastructure projects that are currently ongoing and that are in the pipeline across Canada.

“Speakers expressed a particular interest in businesses with green credentials. Coventry and Warwickshire is home to a variety of companies involved in the sustainable transport sector so there is definitely the potential to work together.

“We look forward to strengthening ties with the Canadian delegation over the coming months.”