Cross-border ‘opportunities for synergies’

The fire truck was made in Manitoba, but it was a Philly native standing inside.

Fort Garry Fire Trucks marked one of the final stops on Thomas Young’s four-night trip to Winnipeg. First, came platters of perogies and Tall Grass Prairie bakery cinnamon buns, round table discussions with business leaders, meetings with municipal and provincial politicians and, naturally, Grey Cup festivities.

“They hosted us tremendously,” Young said, looking to his peer André Brin, World Trade Centre Winnipeg’s chief executive.

Young and a colleague visited Winnipeg on behalf of the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia. Despite recent trade tensions between Canada and the United States, Philadelphia is ready for more business with Winnipeg, Young said.

“Business is going to happen, no matter what. We don’t make the policies. We just adhere to the policies and figure out the best way possible to move forward,” he said.

The American organization has 150 members and 350 clients. World trade centres facilitate international trade.

Brin visited Philadelphia first. He had met World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia staff at an event three years ago and followed up with his Philly colleagues in October last year.

“It feels like every time we talk, we think of more opportunities for synergies,” Brin said.

Philadelphia and Winnipeg have a lot in common, Young agreed. He’s interested in growing partnerships between the cities’ life sciences, agriculture and technology businesses, among other sectors.

And he’s planning to come back — maybe in a couple of years — with representatives of companies seeking to increase trade in Winnipeg.

Before then, World Trade Centre Winnipeg expects to bring a delegation — with local businesses reps — to Philadelphia. The U.S. city is hosting the World Trade Centers Association’s annual global forum in April.

The relationship between the two cities is “early on,” Brin said. Business-to-business matchmaking and talking to government will need to occur in the coming months and years.

Brin said World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia reps met with Manitoba Business Minister Jamie Moses and Winnipeg deputy mayor Coun. Markus Chambers.

“Canada and the U.S. are always going to be neighbours, it’s always going to be this huge market just south of us. When there’s uncertainty, it doesn’t mean you stop,” Brin said.

A total of $37.4 billion worth of goods crossed the border between Manitoba and the United States last year, Canadian Chamber of Commerce data show.

The chamber lists Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Texas as Manitoba’s top U.S. trading partners.

Pennsylvania had US$28.7 billion worth of trade with Canada last year. Around US$842 million was with Manitoba.

Pennsylvania is near North America’s eastern coast. Within a three-hour drive, you have access to 43 million people, Young said. New York City is a train ride away.

Young expressed interest in CentrePort: “You can see where the vision is, you can see where tomorrow is. That’s what business is about, is understanding what tomorrow’s landscape will look like.”

He joined a tour Monday of CentrePort, Manitoba’s trimodal port spanning parts of Rosser and Winnipeg. He stopped at the Fort Garry Fire Trucks facility during the tour.

“It was great to be able to share that story (of Fort Garry Fire Trucks) with our visitors from Philadelphia,” said Carly Edmundson, CentrePort Canada president, adding the World Trade Center reps had “a lot of great questions.”

A majority of Manitoba trade happens with the United States, Edmundson noted.

Seventy per cent of Manitoba exports shipped to the U.S. last year.

“They’re certainly an important trading partner now and going forward,” Edmundson said.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com