Immigrant entrepreneurs can help establish trade 'bridges'
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff recently hosted a round table alongside local business owners during his current tour. At the round table, he stressed the importance of diversifying trade relationships, reports Liberal.ca.
According to Ignatieff, Canadian small business owners will play a large role in that transformation. The United States is currently the primary trading partner for most Canadian small businesses. In order to grow, business owners will need to look at emerging markets. The key is maintaining "bridges" established by immigrant entrepreneurs, says Ignatieff.
"Canada can become a 21st-century trading powerhouse but the government needs to play a strong role - especially in countries like China where government-to-government relationships are vitally important," said Ignatieff at the round table, according to Liberal.ca.
Ignatieff blamed the conservatives for the lack of progression in foreign trade.
Small business owners have traditionally made up a large portion of the export industry - according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, small enterprises accounted for more than two-thirds of the Canadian export business.
