Murphy-led economic mission underway in Canada

A delegation of New Jersey business and government leaders and other key stakeholders arrived over the weekend in Canada for an economic mission led by Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy.

Choose New Jersey organized and coordinated the four-day, three-city trip. A key focus is strengthening the Garden State’s ties with Canada while cultivating partnerships and international investment opportunities in certain sectors, such as film production, technology and more.

Canada is the New Jersey’s top international trading partner, with more than $17.5 billion generated annually through bilateral trade.

The trip began Sept. 7 in Ottawa, featuring meetings with the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada, Invest Ottawa and the Intuit Development Corporation Association (IDCA).

On Sunday, the trip shifted to Toronto, Ontario. There, the State of New Jersey signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Province of Ontario. The new agreement builds upon one signed in 2005 in Princeton.

The MOU focuses on economic development and investment, workforce development and regulatory/academic cooperation. It prioritizes sectors including:

• Life sciences
• Advanced manufacturing
• Information and communication technologies
• Energy
• Agri-food technologies
• Financial services
• Sports and tourism

Betting big on US-Canada relations

“Through this agreement, New Jersey and Ontario will bring together our workers, innovators, students, and entrepreneurs to collaborate on launching new industries and creating new economic opportunities – on both sides of the border,” the governor said. “Above all, this agreement will capitalize on the proud and thriving partnership that our governments and institutions have shared for decades – paving the way for innovation in artificial intelligence, fintech, digital health, and so much more.”

“Ontario and New Jersey have both benefited from a long-standing trade relationship, and this agreement will further strengthen our collaboration, driving economic growth for both jurisdictions,” said Premier Doug Ford.

Ford stressed that at a time of global instability, it has never been more important for Ontario and its U.S. partners to work together to create additional jobs and prosperity, promote shared values and protect shared national security interests.

“Now is the time to bet big on the U.S.-Canada relationship,” said Ford.

NJ at TIFF

Also Sunday, Murphy hosted a reception at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The event honored the seven productions filmed in the Garden State screening at this year’s festival.

Those include:

• “Americano”
• “Millers in Marriage”
• “Presence”
• “Relay”
• “Riff Raff”
• “The Room Next Door”
• “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band” – a documentary about the legendary Jersey rockers that is already generating major buzz following its world premiere at the festival

“I congratulate the seven New Jersey-filmed productions that are screening at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival,” said Murphy. “We are proud of all the producers, directors, actors, and crews who had a part in making these tremendous films.”

Filming for the productions took place in communities throughout Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic and Union counties, as film production continues to boom in the great Garden State.

“New Jersey’s film industry has grown tremendously under Gov. Murphy’s leadership – making the Garden State a national leader in the industry in just a few years,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan.

Something for everyone

Sullivan pointed to New Jersey’s iconic landmarks, eclectic landscapes, diverse talent and enticing incentives – including an expansion of the Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program – as reasons the state is a prime location for all types of productions.

“When productions come to New Jersey, they create good-paying jobs, support mom-and-pop businesses, and generate economic activity across the state,” said Sullivan.

“Having several productions filmed in New Jersey screen at the acclaimed Toronto International Film Festival symbolizes the momentum of the state’s film industry,” said New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission Executive Director Jon Crowley. “Major productions and studios are attracted to the breadth of local talent, diverse filming locations, and generous incentives that New Jersey has to offer.”

“The state’s commitment to enhancing its film industry infrastructure and incentives ensures that we’ll keep attracting more productions and further solidify our status as a leading filming destination,” said Wesley Mathews, president and CEO, Choose New Jersey.

The economic mission continues in Toronto Monday, before heading to Montreal, Quebec, later in the day. It wraps up there Tuesday.

Read the article here.