Businesses today are facing unprecedented challenges, Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT) President & CEO Sheldon Leiba told members of the Port Credit BIA today at its monthly breakfast meeting.  Local Mississauga Councillor, Jim Tovey (Ward 1), was amongst the over 75 in attendance.

“Increased competition domestically and internationally, business regulations and red tape, an ever-changing social and global environment, technology, the need to attract and retain skilled talent, government fiscal restraints and lack of investment in needed infrastructure, are all placing tremendous pressures on business.”

He said Mississauga is in a very fortunate position to have a strong local economy due to location; excellent civic leadership; quantity and quality of business and jobs; quality of life amenities; and two “outstanding” post secondary institutions in University of Toronto Mississauga and Sheridan Institute.

“People from all over the world want to live here, work here, create and build businesses,” he said.

Leiba told the BIA business group that the Mississauga Board of Trade is an important part of our economic development ecosystem.   “We have strong political, business and community leadership and combined we will continue to be instrumental in building Mississauga’s economic prosperity.”

Two of MBOT’s emerging priorities are young entrepreneurs and professionals and connecting talent to business.

“Surveys and focus groups in our city, and the businesses we meet with every day, clearly tell us that access to talent is a top issue of concern for business.  It not just a local issue but a national issue.”

Advantage Mississauga
MBOT took a lead role in creating a new economic development partnership, called Advantage Mississauga, comprised of key leading stakeholders (business, education and local government) to address the issue of “connecting talent to opportunity.  An initial focus is on encouraging and supporting business to leverage young talent.

Visit advantagemississauga.com for more information.

MBOT NGen
In late 2012, MBOT launched MBOT NGen (Next Generation), a new brand of business networking, professional development and education, focused on young professionals and entrepreneurs under the age of 40.

“These are not only our leaders of tomorrow, but are leaders today, bringing new ideas, creativity and innovation to business.  Our community’s economic competitiveness, future prosperity and quality of life, will be highly dependent on how we develop, nurture, engage, retain and connect our younger talent,” Leiba said.

“Our goal is to better engage young professionals and entrepreneurs in Mississauga, and support their development and connectivity in a forum that did not exist for this important demographic before now.”

Follow their activities on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mbotNgen.

Leiba concluded his remarks highlighting MBOT’s strong policy advocacy role, its “Mississauga Works” Policy Priorities Agenda and optimistic outlook.  “Despite the issues and challenges that exist in our economic environment, there is much opportunity for business and employment growth and prosperity. And MBOT is very proud of its leadership role in our community, and will continue to do its part to support our economy, business, jobs and quality of life.”