Kansas City, Mo. — Canada
Creating jobs; increasing international business
Why Canada?
Kansas City’s geographic central location, its stalwart “inland port,” and the City’s and Canada’s globalization endeavors create an innate partnership. Kansas City lies at the hub of North American trade routes.
Canada is the number one export market for the United States, accounting for a greater percentage of total United States exports than all the countries in Europe combined. Canada ranks as an essential Kansas City business partner because:
• The geographic proximity, congruent time zones, common language, and cultural and historical ties significantly link Kansas City and Canada
• During the past 10 years, the Kansas City-Canada
mid-continent international trade corridor efforts created firm relationships between Kansas City and its Canadian counterparts.
• Kansas City, Mo., United States, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada signed a significant economic opportunities partnership in 2005
Mission
The Kansas City-Canada program strategically promotes the development of international business by facilitating trade, business relationships, investment and tourism across North America and beyond.
Services
• Business matchmaking – organize inbound and outbound trade missions to develop and increase business between companies located in Kansas City, Mo., with those in Canadian provinces, ultimately creating more jobs for both areas
• Trade leads – follow up on business leads and referrals
• Basic market research – provide basic market research
services to Kansas City international business entrepreneurs and to companies that seek to expand their international sales
• Support integrated corridor development – participate
with the North America SuperCorridor Coalition at international conferences and events
Highlights and strategies
2006
• Kansas City, Canadian and Mexican business leaders and government officials participate in a tri-lateral trade mission in Manzanillo, Mexico
• Kansas City businesses take part in a trade mission to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
2005
• Kansas City and Winnipeg sign an economic opportunity partnership at the North America Works Conference in Kansas City
• Representatives and officials from Manitoba and Winnipeg hold meetings in Kansas City
• Businesses from Manitoba participate in a trade mission to Kansas City
2004
• Canadian officials attend the NAITCP Summit and Business Conference in Kansas City
2003
• Kansas City-Canadian relationships develop through collaborations with universities and the North America International Trade Corridor Partnership (NAITCP) now known as North America’s Super Corridor Coalition (NASCO)
For more information, contact:
Stephan Bras
International Affairs and Trade Office
Phone: (816) 513-3521
Fax: (816) 513-3524
E-mail: international_office@kcmo.org
