OGDENSBURG — More than 40 representatives of Canadian businesses attended Wednesday’s cross-border trade show, which aimed to boost trade in the United States.

The event, held at the Dobisky Center, 100 Riverside Ave., focused on Canadian exports.

Several seminars were held by the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Immigration Law Group.

The seminars were held in conjunction with the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation, which typically sponsors its U.S. seminars in Buffalo.

“The trade seminars are something we have done for almost 28 years, but this is the first time it’s been done in Ogdensburg,” Community Export Development Director Debbie Walker said Wednesday. “Ogdensburg is so close to the border, and there is a real opportunity for unique partnerships. We have a lot of companies from all over Ontario that are interested in the United States.”

The seminars focused on banking, taxation and the legalities of exporting.

“There are more rules than you think,” said St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency Deputy CEO Thomas A. Plastino. “The information being provided is really current and relative to the issues companies face when exporting. These are people who do this for a living.”

Mr. Plastino said one of the IDA’s goals is to attract Canadian investors and promote job growth in St. Lawrence County.

“We let them know the convenience of locating their business here,” he said. “We can provide them with employment, mail drop, buildings and warehouses and other services.”

Following the seminars, visitors were taken by bus to the Port of Ogdensburg, the OBPA’s Commerce Park light industrial park and Ogdensburg International Airport.

“It’s really important for them to see what’s out there,” Mr. Plastino said.

An event also will be held Oct. 18 in Massena in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and the U.S. Consulate in Montreal.

“Capitalizing on the opportunities for trade and development from the border is a priority for St. Lawrence County and a regional economic development strategy for the north country,” said IDA CEO Patrick J. Kelly. “Today’s event highlights the willingness on both sides of the border to collaborate in pursuit of our shared interests.”

Thousands of readers like you have made Northern New York Newspapers the number one ranked website* for local news and sports coverage in the north country.

You can continue on to this article in a few seconds, or you can visit one of our websites:

• Watertown Daily Times
• The Ogdensburg Journal
• Daily Courier-Observer