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The Brampton Guardian
City’s first-ever business expo tackled the global economy
The Brampton Guardian
Friday June 6 2008
By Peter Criscione, Staff Writer
 
BRAMPTON - The international business community descended on Brampton this week for the city's first-ever Brampton Business Expo.
Hosted by the Brampton Board of Trade, organizers said the purpose of the event is to highlight this city's competitive advantage on the world market.
In addition to boasting a massive manufacturing sector, Brampton is home to a wide range of industries including telecommunications, research and development and investment firms.
The connection this city has to the global economy is considerable.
Therefore it was fitting that the first Brampton Business Expo, held Wednesday at the Holiday Inn Select in Brampton, be dubbed Global Thinking for a Global City.
Brampton Board of Trade CEO Sheldon Leiba said the purpose of the daylong event was to showcase the diversity of businesses in this city, promote and develop new business opportunities, and foster business relations.
"We believe this is the first time anyone has pulled together local businesses and people with specific expertise around local and global economics to create a dialogue about opportunities" Leiba said. "This is a great opportunity to discuss Brampton business in a global context, make new business connections and listen to some engaging speakers on a range of topics that impact business of all sizes."
Thirty local businesses representing a wide range of industries took part in the expo including Bell Canada, Research Development Consulting, Morguard Investments, Logistics Associates and Sheridan College.
In addition to a tradeshow and a keynote speech by David Robinson, Rogers Wireless vice president of new business planning, the expo featured six seminars on topics such as global opportunities for Canadian business, North American economic outlook and Brampton as a great place to do business.
David Carroll, sales manager Check into The Centre, a residence and conference facility, said the expo provided him a unique opportunity to network and get an idea of the various types of businesses operating out of Brampton.
The event also attracted an international audience with numerous guests including Richard Mann, director general of the Canada Arab Business Council, an organization that supports member companies in doing two-way business with their counterparts in the Middle East and North Africa.