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On 22 February a Canadian delegation of economic professionals was introduced to innovative Peterborough tech companies by economic development company, Opportunity Peterborough, in a bid to forge international trade links and promote Peterborough as a place for inward investment.

The visiting delegates came with an offer for Peterborough’s tech companies to trial new technology in a real world environment in the city of Summerside, a small, highly IT integrated city on Prince Edward Island in Canada.

To give the visitors a flavour of the technology that’s already making a difference in Peterborough, Opportunity Peterborough shared highlights from the globally renowned Smart City work being delivered by the Future Peterborough Programme, which is jointly run by Opportunity Peterborough and Peterborough City Council.

Tech presenters included ABAX, Royal HaskoningDHV, Lark Energy and Solar Polar who all showcased their innovative products and services. The delegation were also shown highlights of Peterborough’s global award-winning Smart City work and were introduced to the strengths of the city’s wider economy. The visit ended with a tour of Peterborough’s new Innovation Lab at the Allia Future Business Centre.

Mike Thusuka, Director of Economic Development for the City of Summerside, said: “The business symposium organised by Opportunity Peterborough was a great chance for our two cities to exchange information, meet partners and discuss areas of collaboration.  It’s obvious that Peterborough has a strategic vision, like-minded partners and ambitions for achieving success.  We certainly left the meeting with a renewed sense of how we can work together, with a deep understanding of the economy of Peterborough. We look forward to continuing our international co-operation in assisting the growth of our companies and communities.”

Steve Bowyer, chief executive of Opportunity Peterborough, added: “We were delighted to host the delegation of Canadian economic professionals and present them with a snapshot of the smart and innovative technology that’s being developed here in Peterborough. We’re looking forward to further developing this new relationship with Summerside and are excited to see where it could take both cities and their businesses.

“As Opportunity Peterborough continues to accelerate the city’s international reputation, there are going to be more opportunities to engage with foreign delegations to explore collaborative ventures around buying, selling and trialling products and services. We want the city’s businesses to benefit from these connections and would encourage them to let us know directly if they have a product or service for the international market and would like to be contacted about future presenting opportunities.”

If you’d like to register your interest in taking part in future international delegations like this, contact Opportunity Peterborough by calling 01733 317417 or emailing info@opportunitypeterborough.co.uk