The fact that Metro Vancouver municipal attempts to foster international business relationships and partnerships are greeted with such skepticism shows the small-thinking that limits certain commentators in their analysis of recent trips to China and India by several of the Mayors.

Sorry for the time off…moving really sucks.

I picked up the latest edition of the Indo Canadian Voice newspaper this past week to see the following story:

“Mayor Watts  headed for India

Surrey Mayor, Dianne Watts is headed for India on  a networking exercise for local businesses. Watts announced Thursday she will be travelling to India from Feb. 10-18 next year to further business networks in the Indian market.

“With its rapidly growing population and strong connection to Surrey’s population,  India is a natural fit for establishing partnerships to create jobs and attract investment in our city,” said Watts. “As we expand our focus on the rapidly growing economies in the Asia Pacific, it has become clear that the business potential of India is largely untapped in Western Canada.”

Several companies have already said they will participate in the networking mission, including Rapid Electric Vehicles, Powertech and Simon Fraser University.

The budget for the trip is $128,000 which includes travel costs for the mayor, three councillors and three staff members. That amount covers pre-event organizing as well as a co-ordinator in India. Participating businesses will be paying for their own expenses. Local business  owner Fraukkh Patel says the Mayors trip is long overdue and will have a positive impact.”

Similarly, Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan is just returning from an excursion to China to put “Burnaby on the map” and because the trip is being described as “tremendously valuable in an economic development capacity.”

Funny then that only Mayor Gregor Robertson’s recent business trip to China with a delegation of 22 companies seems to be the one that gets articles like this written about the excursion.

But this isn’t about Robertson, or Corrigan or Watts…this is more about the small thinking associated with those that deem these projects as “junkets.”

Business development is something that every municipal government in the country needs to be thinking about because of the way in which they are the forgotten level of government, both constitutionally and when it comes to revenue sharing with their two senior couterparts.

Here is a perfect example from the UBCM convention this week of how powerless municipalities, large and small, truly are.

So, the Metro Vancouver Commerce to pool all of the municipalities of Metro together to take advantage of the international audience that was here on our doorsteps during the Olympics was a great first step towards broadening our economic horizons.

And, the local results thus far have been encouraging.

As I have written before, the model for taking the platform of Olympic exposure and parlaying it into international success came from the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games.  The Australian Trade Commission’s Business Club Australia idea was capitalized upon by continued pitching of Australia and its expertise at trade shows and major international gatherings following the Olympics.

The same kind of strategy must be exercised in Metro Vancouver if we are ever going to have a realistic shot and trade and commerce growth at the international level.

Now, do I think that these excursions should at times be collaborative so that a major delegation representing several Metro Vancouver municipalities becomes a sign of joint regional planning between the Mayors?  Absolutely.

But to criticize the entire concept from the get-go – to immediately label these trips (which are supported in force by companies and chambers of commerce willing to put up money to pay their own way is just small, provincial thinking.

Mackin points out that the Robertson’s trip had no solid deals to report thus far.  So what?

That isn’t to say that discussions are not ongoing (which from what I hear they absolutely are towards some major developments that could be reported upon in the coming months), or that the relationship building that occurred will not be beneficial in the long run.

I find the fact that a UBCM resolution about the prospect of four-year civic terms was defeated at the UBCM convention to be ironic, considering how governments and elected officials are just as guilty these days of thinking about the time between elections as little more than a means to renew their jobs.

It is time to think big, and to think of this region as an international epicentre on a number of fronts.  And the first step towards that comes from a population mature enough to think beyond its typical parameters.

debates about three or four-year electoral terms,

Competition for Japadog, which for years has become Vancouver's number one street food attraction, is going to have to pony up a significant investment to participate in the upcoming pilot project.

While the plan to introduce new culinary options to Vancouver streets has generally been a welcome decision by most Vancouverites, there were a number of concerns voiced by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association.

Quite simply, the $1,000 licensing fee that these new locations would be required to pony up for the city seemed to undercut restaurants downtown who pay through the teeth for their location.  Rent, taxes and parking alone make any downtown food proprietor a brave soul that puts their money where their mouth is.

Well, Charles Gauthier et al. should be happy with the following curbside parking fees that will most definitely weed out those vendors who are looking for an inexpensive path to a downtown location.

I am exactly sure how this reporter got the $43,200 annual figure, but the $2,400 a month parking meter recovery fee seems like a pretty reasonable rate to put these quick food options on a level playing field with storefronts.

Personally, I think the flat fee of $1,500 for locations outside of the downtown core are much more reasonable and would give the lottery winners a much better shot at actually turning a profit in this initial 9-month trial run.

A placement at 49th & Cambie (pictured above), right outside of the new Canada Line station catering to the thousands of students who take transit to attend the nearby Langara College, for example, would be a boon and a bargain at $1,500.

And the best part?  There is nothing there to cut into business with, risking no dispute with an already existing owner and offering commuters a quick and easy option for a bite that never existed before.

Critics of the current Council roundly criticized the plan as they do with most ideas forwarded by Vision Vancouver over the fact that they were rushing into a decision without the proper consideration for the business owners who pay significant civic taxes.

Yet as is usually the case, the combination of Council direction and staff oversight has provided a reasonable way to ensure that no unfair advantages are being offered, but at the same time residents can now look forward to a range of new and exciting food options as they walk the streets across the city.

Accusations against Council about being unfriendly to business have come from people looking to advance a political agenda.  The bike lane trial on Burrard Street, which Appleton Galleries owner Ron Appleton blames for the closure of his business, is just one example where people piled on the decision.

But as this letter writer aptly points out, Appleton Galleries had far more problems than a simple road closure.  To suggest that customers were attracted to the gallery by a quick right turn onto Hornby off of the bridge, and to further suggest that business dropped by an astonishing 50% after the closure, is utterly ridiculous and has been since the very first day that Appleton decided to take his complaints public.

Vision Vancouver has shifted taxes to residents from businesses, engaged in the Metro Vancouver Commerce program that has brought $60 million in investment to the city, and is open to new ideas from business owners who are looking to make the city more vibrant, greener, and more cost effective, particularly when it comes to housing.

The way in which VEDC is being used as a platform to actually sell the city to the outside world is a fantastic leap forward from past councils that took the organization for granted.

This street vendor program will be fun to test out from a consumer’s point of view, and interesting to see where the City heads next based on the results of the pilot.

Can Metro Vancouver leverage the the global attention of the Olympics?

The program is based partially on the Australian Trade Commission’s Business Club Australia idea that was launched during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

But in examining both initiatives, one has to wonder if Vancouver’s is far too finite to make major waves.

The Austrailians knew they wanted to promote their expertise in sporting on the global sports scene.  They also knew that due to geography, attracting business to Australia was far less likely than exporting Australian products and services to the globe.

So, they launched a special business events program to facilitate face-to-face connections during the Olympics and Paralympics Games period at a state-of- the-art business centre (known as the Club centre):

• 97 events
• The club was used for high level meetings by over 400 VIP’s and politicians during the Games
• 16,182 visitors to the Club centre at Wharf 7 during the Games (27 percent from overseas) with a further 845 visitors during the Paralympic Games
• A virtual (on-line) club housing the BCA member database allowing for online business matching and use a range of on-line business services
• Austrade also brought 50 VIP business visitors to Australia prior to, and during the Olympics to network under the Trade Visitors Australia (TVA) program
• The Federal Government’s ‘Australia Open for Business’ campaign generated over $1.2bn worth of export & investment opportunities during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games

The Business Club Australia concept has endured so that the country is well represented at every major international sporting event to promote Australian sports business expertise.

As an example, at least six major Olympic arenas for the Beijing Olympic Games were Australian-designed and many Australians acted as consultants to the Chinese organizers.

Australia also made a major contribution to high profile symbols of the Games. BHP Billiton provided the ores in the medals, Bluescope provided materials for the Olympic Torch, and the Torch relay was organised by Australian company, Maxxam International.

And behind the scenes, Australian exporters – large and small – supplied China in everything from lighting control systems in the hotels and the Olympic venues to the smoke alarm systems to the artificial turf to the mobile phone antenna’s in the ‘Bird’s Nest’ stadium.

Contrast this with Metro Vancouver Commerce’s approach. $1.5 million to target 50 small to medium-size companies that already have interest in British Columbia and engage them in 10 to 15 meetings with key business leaders, industry associations and B.C. officials.

Now this seems decidedly low-profile when compared to the efforts of the Australians in their business development efforts.  Is targeting 50 businesses a smart way of using business intelligence to ensure success, or is it a risky strategy that puts all of our eggs into a very small basket?  Also, why are we targeting small to medium-size companies and not the big boys?  And why are these efforts only being announced now?

Where these meetings will be held is yet to be determined, as BC and Canada have decided to have two different pavilions with seemingly little coordination throughout the Games.  On top of this, construction has only started in the past month or so on both venues.

Couple this with the fact that the Conservative government pulled the funding necessary to bring the Forbes CEO Forum — and hundreds of the world’s top CEOs and investors — to the province just days before the Olympics begin, and it seems that efforts to make the Games pay seem hastily put together and not very well thought out.

“The business opportunities that result from hosting the 2010 Winter Games only come once in a lifetime” – this is the quote that Mayor Gregor Robertson and Mayor Dianne Watts offer in their guest editorial from Monday’s Vancouver Province.

I couldn’t agree more, making what I have described above disappointing in its diminutive scale, scope and collaboration between all three levels of governemnt.

* * * * *

GOVERNMENTS JOIN FORCES IN HISTORIC BID TO MAXIMIZE 2010 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Unprecedented collaboration set to attract green business, new investment & employment opportunities to the Metro Vancouver region

November 9, 2009

VANCOUVER, BC – Nine Metro Vancouver municipalities have unveiled details of an unprecedented joint initiative to attract foreign investment and strengthen the region’s economy through its hosting of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

“This is an unmistakable, one-time opportunity for Metro Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada to leverage the world’s most powerful global event,” said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson while announcing details of the Metro Vancouver Commerce 2010 Business Program today at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The partner municipalities include the City of Vancouver, City of Surrey, City of Richmond, District of North Vancouver, City of North Vancouver, City of New Westminster, City of Port Moody, City of Coquitlam and District of Maple Ridge.

The $1.5 million 2010 Business Program, funded in part by the federal government’s Western Economic Diversification agency, also involves collaboration at the provincial government level. This is the first time in Lower Mainland history that a group of local governments have come together in such a significant regional business approach to generating economic development for their communities.

“In the months leading up to the Games, MVC partners have been working together closely, employing an extensive and rigorous screening process to identify international companies with a keen interest in investing in our region,” said Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts, one of three founding members of Metro Vancouver Commerce.

During the Games, the Program will allow decision-makers from 50 international small and medium-sized businesses to spend four days in Metro Vancouver participating in between 10 and 15 meetings with key business leaders, industry associations and B.C. officials – and ultimately brokering business agreements that lead to long-term investment and economic prosperity for all Metro Vancouver Commerce partner communities.

“These executives have already expressed a genuine interest in our region,” said Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie – also a founding member of Metro Vancouver Commerce. “By hosting them during the Games we’re able to show them firsthand our world-class lifestyle, our thriving economy, and the business climate that makes us a global destination for investment and a gateway for international trade.”

The Program opens the door to an unprecedented opportunity to attract new investment, and generate employment and growth in sectors of importantce to the economic well being of the Metro Vancouver region, such as green enterprise; digital media and film; biotech and life sciences; wireless technologies, advanced manufacturing; and trade, transportation and logistics.

MVC derived the Program from Olympic Business Best Practices around the world. It’s expected to generate business from over half of all delegations brought to the region, with measurable results for all contributing municipalities produced well beyond 2010.

Delegates must arrange their own travel to the region. They will then be hosted over four days of high-level meetings with local businesses, key business leaders and B.C. officials, as well as both ticketed and non-ticked Olympic-related events.