Photo courtesy of the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau
We are very pleased to announce that the City of Long Beach, California has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MAPLE Business Council to promote bilateral economic development opportunities between Long Beach and Canada.
As part of the City of Long Beach’s Blueprint for Economic Development, Long Beach has identified specific objectives for Economic Leadership and Cooperation. These include expanding regional and international market opportunities for local products and services and increasing foreign direct investment and international trade.
Canada is a key market opportunity for Long Beach given its geographic proximity, its status as the second largest export market for California and as the third largest source of foreign direct investment in Los Angeles County. Consistent with Long Beach’s recommendations to partner with regional agencies to promote trade and foreign direct investment, Long Beach would like to facilitate more bilateral economic activity with Canada with the help of MAPLE Business Council.
“As one of our region’s top trading partners, Canada is an important ally for Southern California,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. “We hope to strengthen ties with Canada through a formal partnership with MAPLE Business Council, which promotes cross-border trade, investment, and business relations. Through this partnership, we will be able to promote Long Beach to Canadian businesses and investors, as well as give our local entrepreneurs the resources and tools they need to access Canadian markets. This is an important step to advance our City’s economic development objectives and become a leader in economic cooperation.”
The scope of the MOU includes opportunities for the City of Long Beach and MAPLE Business Council to collaborate in the promotion of the Long Beach region to Canadian markets. Areas of collaboration that are envisioned include an event in Long Beach for visiting Canadians and the MAPLE cross-sector business network to learn more about Long Beach, participation in MAPLE cross-border programming in Southern California and Canada, connecting MAPLE business members with organizations and institutions that are active in the economic development of Long Beach, as well as amplification of Long Beach economic development news to the MAPLE cross-border community.
MAPLE appreciates the endorsement of the MOU by Mayor Garcia and wishes to thank John Keisler and Seyed Jalali of the City of Long Beach Economic Development Department and Tyler Curley of the Mayor’s Office for their partnership vision and commitment. MAPLE also wishes to recognize MAPLE Advisory Board members, Rashma Agarwal and Eric Eide, for their contributions to this new partnership.
Welcome to MAPLE – City of Long Beach!