The first edition of SelectUSA Canada, themed Expanding for Growth, will take place in Toronto on Tuesday, November 17, 2015. Building on the success of the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, D.C., last March, the Canada 2015 event is designed for Canadian companies of all kinds, from start-ups to well-established manufacturers, from a broad range of industries and markets.
The event, organized by the United States Commercial Service in partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada, will also feature a luncheon keynote address by U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman. Media are invited to cover the luncheon on November 17 from 12:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at Metro Toronto Convention Centre (Room 105, 255 Front St. W, Toronto).
SelectUSA Canada is a unique platform to bring U.S. economic development organizations (EDOs) to Canada, making it easier for Canadian companies to learn about different parts of the U.S. market. The U.S. EDOs will engage in one-on-one discussions with Canadian investors who are interested in establishing or expanding U.S. operations. Canadian companies will participate at no charge and will benefit from a full morning conference program, the luncheon keynote by Ambassador Heyman, afternoon networking, meetings with participating EDOs, a new public-private partnership, and a closing reception.
Two of the featured Canadian companies participating in SelectUSA 2015 are:
- Champion Petfoods, a Canadian company that makes Biologically Appropriate™ pet foods from fresh regional ingredients. Champion sells its ACANA and ORIJEN brands to more than 72 countries, with 77% of revenues coming from international markets. Following Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear’s 2013 trade mission to Canada, the company announced an investment of $85 million in its first U.S. pet food kitchen in Auburn, Kentucky. The new Kentucky kitchen will open in 2016.
- Gildan, founded in 1984 and headquartered in Montreal. It has more than 34,000 employees worldwide, including several manufacturing facilities in the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean. Gildan is a manufacturer of basic family apparel, including T-shirts, fleece, sport shirts, socks and underwear. Gildan owns diverse portfolio of brands and is one of the largest suppliers of branded athletic, casual, and dress socks for a broad spectrum of retailers in the United States. It has expanded to become the leading distributor of 100% cotton t-shirts in the United States, as determined by a 2001 ACNielsen S.T.A.R.S. Report. In 2013, Gildan announced expansions to existing plants and a new plant in North Carolina totaling $250 million in investment and expected to create 500 new jobs by 2017.
Immediately following the luncheon keynote, an award ceremony will recognize Champion Petfoods for its investment success in the United States and announcement will be made about the establishment of a new organization called the “Invest USA Committee,” a public-private partnership to bring together key players in the investment sector that share the common mission of promoting and facilitating Canadian investment in the United States.
For media-related inquiries please contact:
Madina Turdieva
Media Specialist
U.S. Consulate General Toronto
Email: TurdievaM@state.gov
Phone: 416-595-1700 ext.220
Cell: 416-456-2962
Kim Kelly
Manager, Events and Communications
American Chamber of Commerce in Canada
Email: kim.kelly@amchamcanada.ca
Phone: 613-293-5137
