Building Partnerships with Canada
A delegation of Candian businesses, led by Halifax Partnership's Director of Trade and International Partnership, were welcomed to Portsmouth last week as the two cities continue to develop our friendship and partnership. The Canadian business leaders started their time in the city at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, with over 70 businesses from the Solent region and Canada being brought together by Maritime UK Solent to share opportunities to boost Portsmouth and the Solent region's highly skilled and respected maritime industries.
Jason Guidry from Halifax Partners then met with 14 businesses from across our city who are looking to find new markets and customers in Canada, creating jobs and wealth for Portsmouth. Portsmouth businesses operating in data and digital services, life sciences, satellite applications, and maritime technology are due to benefit from closer ties between Halifax, Nova Scotia, are the Solent region.
In a changing world where international cooperation is even more vital, we are taking every opportunity to help our businesses grow and strengthen our local economy. It was a pleasure to welcome the Canadians and see real potential to expand on work to develop a significant partnership focused on business and our visitor economy.
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth and Halifax started their friendship over 200 years ago while both cities were key naval and shipbuilding cities, and solidified it in 2023 when then-Lord Mayor Cllr Hugh Mason and Halifax Mayor Mike Savage signed a sister city agreement designed to expand on both cities' work to develop opportunities for businesses in shipbuilding, oceanology, satellite applications and for maritime small businesses.