The London Economic Development Corporation held their second annual Manufacturing Matters conference, which is aimed at manufacturers looking to expand their operations. President and CEO of the LEDC Kapil Lakhotia says he hopes the conference helps the local business community to grow.
“We were certainly hoping this would help foster stronger supply chains, and result in expansions, and even the attraction of new companies going forward.”
He added that the majority of companies at the conference were small or medium sized businesses, which may require grants and other types of assistance. The LEDC works alongside the government to provide support.
“We work with all levels of governments to ensure that supports are available to local companies for diversification, export market development, financing, grants, and a host of other programs that might be available.”
Government officials, industry leaders, and local manufacturers all gave talks at the conference. Some of the companies involved were Mentor Works, Artisan Metal Working, and Export Development Canada, as well as Peter White, the executive director of government relations and strategic partnerships at Western University, and John Makura, the director of the Canadian Center of Production Validation of Fanshawe College.