Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Attraction Strategy – Implementation Update

The following are key points for consideration with respect to this report:

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a key part of the Town’s comprehensive economic development efforts and part of the Town’s broader Economic Development and Tourism Strategy. FDI activities can benefit local businesses, help attract high quality local jobs and increase non-residential assessment.
• The core objective of the Town’s FDI Attraction Strategy is to generate net new investment and jobs in Halton Hills by enhancing the Town’s presence and competitiveness in the global marketplace, increasing the amount of investment leads in target sectors, and developing relationships with key in-market stakeholders – including the Canadian Trade Commissioners in Berlin and The Hague.
• Halton Hills’ FDI Attraction Strategy is focused on Germany and the Netherlands as target markets, and the sectors of Advanced Manufacturing, Food and Beverage Processing, Agri-Business, and Clean Technology/Renewable Energy.
• Over the past two years, due to a focused and impactful workplan, the Town’s capacity to attract and retain FDI has improved significantly. This has included the development of four sector-specific Investment Business Cases, a new Halton Hills’ Community Profile, a Halton Hills FDI Pitchdeck, planning of an in-market trade mission, developing an investment lead pipeline of approximately 60 companies, and successfully applying for external funding.
• Work to-date has built a solid foundation from which to execute a successful trade mission in 2022. There is still much global uncertainty regarding COVID-19’s impact on FDI. However, pending favorable conditions, the Town is tentatively planning for an FDI delegation/trade mission to Germany and Netherlands in Fall 2022.
• To be successful, FDI attraction requires sustained effort and a long-term commitment to identify, service and realize investment opportunities

• This report impacts and/or helps address climate change and the Town’s resiliency through climate adaptation.
• By implementing the FDI Attraction Strategy, the Town has an opportunity to attract, grow and leverage a local Clean Technology sector or cluster. Doing so, will leverage Council’s Climate Emergency Resolution and help showcase Halton Hills as a destination for Clean Technology businesses – one of the FDI Attraction Strategy’s target sectors. Germany and Netherlands are leaders in the latter sector.
• As such businesses locate in Halton Hills, they can contribute to delivering the products, services, research and/or partnerships that are required to implement climate mitigation and adaptation actions.