ST. LOUIS — The assignment was simple. Cover the news conference announcing Air Canada’s new, seasonal service from St. Louis Lambert International Airport to Montreal. Easy. We’ve done dozens of stories like this. But beyond the cool accents, crowd, and cake, we discovered a larger story. Between the Show-Me-State and our north neighbors, business is booming.
“There’s definitely something happening between Quebec and the Show-Me-State right now. The numbers are showing it. 8.5 percent growth over the last five years. Almost two billion dollars of trade relationships. Things are heading in the right direction.” The Midwest delegate of the Quebec Government, Jean-François Hould, made this statement in an interview on May 2, 2024.
“You’re seeing not only Canadian businesses that leverage this here. But it’s also St. Louis companies leveraging the opportunities in Canada,” said World Trade Center St. Louis Executive Director Tim Nowak.
Nowak says Canada is the state of Missouri and the St. Louis region’s largest trade and investment partner. In 2023, Missouri had $4.3 billion in imports from Canada and $6.5 billion in exports to Canada.
“When you look at the distribution opportunities, Rail. River. Road. Now, air. You’ve got a really good starting point for doing business in North America. And in particular, some of those industries are really our strengths. AG technology. Bio-life science. Financial industries. Now, geospatial and others.” Replied Nowak.
After the Air Canada announcement on May 2, Nowak and a group of local leaders caught the flight to Montreal as part of a four-day trade mission.
“Literally, the week after we got home, there were already representatives from the Quebec province who were back here in St. Louis meeting with several companies and organizations who were on our trade mission. So the work is continuing; it’s building.” Said Nowak.
Vincent Routhier’s Quebec-based company produces state-of-the art audiovisual systems powered by a wide range of educational applications. The St. Louis Public School district will soon equip every elementary school gym with a Lü system.
“We got really quickly introduced to the government and economic development organizations and all those people are really well interconnected so it’s easier for us to get into business locally between those cities because those trails are already there.” Said Routhier.
A success story demonstrating that the Gateway to the West can be a catapult for Canadian companies.
“It’s very exciting for us and it’s really the starting point of a greater relationship where we can learn a lot from it.” Said Routhier.
“This is a hyper-connected global economy. We can’t stick our heads in the sand. We have to be engaged. We have to compete as a community and we’re doing just that.” Added Nowak.
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