Three new Ontario international marketing centres are being co-located within Canadian embassies in Paris, Mexico City and Beijing.
This brings to 10 the number of Ontario offices in Canadian diplomatic and consular missions abroad, with the other seven in New York, Shanghai, Munich, New Delhi, Tokyo, Los Angeles and London.
"Expanding Ontario's strategic international presence is a key priority," Economic Development and Trade Minister Sandra Pupatello said.
"Our international marketing centres ... (are) helping attract more job-creating investments to the province; they're providing Ontario companies with the contacts and information they need to succeed in a global economy; and they are connecting with key influencers and business decision-makers to promote Ontario's interests," the minister added.
These three new centres are expected to become operational in the first half of 2007. Each will be staffed with two full-time representatives - one sent from Ontario, another hired locally.
In addition to attracting investment and promoting the export of Ontario goods and services, these offices will reach out to international business media, gather strategic commercial intelligence, and foster linkages between international and Ontario-based researchers and institutions.
Web Watch: www.ontariocanada.com
