Thunder Bay strives for 'true' diversification.

• Position: Ontario's economic development officials exhaust ways to attract Hong Kong investment - Focus on Thunder Bay

The city's economic development officials acted early to attract Hong Kong investment

"True diversification" is how P.R. Charbonneau views his office's efforts to attract Pacific Rim investment to Thunder Bay.

Charbonneau, the general manager of the Thunder Bay Economic Development Corporation (EDC), has travelled many miles in an attempt to attract investment which is not related to forestry, grain handling or mining.

Indications that this effort is paying off have started to appear over the past two years.

Earlier this year, for example, Leo Sakata Electronics (Canada) Ltd. and Earnway Industries (Canada) Limited both established operations in Thunder Bay's Balmoral Industrial Park. The investments created a total of 140 jobs.

Leo Sakata manufactures components for such items as Panasonic microwave ovens, while Earnway produces plastic items for the household, as well as parts for electronic components.

"They (Leo Sakata and Earnway) are rather non-traditional," Charbonneau said with reference to Thunder Bay's overall economy.

However, Leo Sakata and Earnway could soon be joined by other companies making the move from Hong Kong to Thunder Bay.

According to Charbonneau and EDC chairman John Walker, four to six additional companies could be announcing a move to Thunder Bay in the spring.

Walker attributes this success to the speed with which Thunder Bay officials reacted to the British announcement that Hong Kong would be turned over to China in 1997.

"We were one of the first to arrive," Walker pointed out.

The early start was necessary because it takes about three years under a streamlined immigration process to move a business, its owner and managers and their families. In addition, Thunder Bay officials first had to forge strong ties with the Hong Kong business community.

"There is a high trust factor involved," said Charbonneau. "It took a long time to develop that trust, but it was worth it."

Charbonneau admitted that it also took time for his economic development officials to learn the business culture of Hong Kong.

"It was a very ambitious undertaking on our part," he noted. "The big thing was getting to know the way business is done. We have our ways of doing things, and they have their ways of doing things."

Charbonneau credits Phillip Wong, a senior planner with the city, for making the effort easier.

"His language capability and his knowledge of the nature of Hong Kong is a real asset on these trips, "Charbonneau said, adding...