A recent tour of Central Alberta by provincial government officials could help put this region on the investment map.
Matt Cornall, an investment attraction officer with Central Alberta: Access Prosperity, said more than a dozen people from the departments of International and Intergovernmental Relations, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Innovation and Advanced Education’s industry branch spent two days in Central Alberta late last month.
They toured a number of area businesses, met with economic development officers from the region, and gained an understanding of what Central Alberta has to offer.
Many of those officials regularly speak with prospective foreign investors, or are familiar with the business connections being made at Alberta’s overseas offices, said Cornall.
“Hopefully they’re far more knowledgeable about what we have to offer here in Central Alberta and will make some connections that will be good for our businesses.”
He credited Dana Mackie, executive director of International and Intergovernmental Relations’ North Asia branch, for putting the delegation together.
“He got some very high-ranking government officials.”
Cornall said foreign delegations and visitors often fly into Edmonton or Calgary, travel non-stop to the other city via Hwy 2, and then fly home.
“If we can kind of kidnap them while they’re driving up Hwy 2 and spend some time in the region, that’s good for everyone.”