ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Maryland Department of Commerce today renewed a
memorandum of understanding with the Province of Ontario to support economic cooperation and increase bilateral investment and trade. The agreement—originally signed in 2020 with a focus on advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, and agribusiness—has been expanded to include collaboration in life sciences, information technology, and clean energy between the regions.
“Partnership produces progress across regions, economies, and cultures,” said Gov. Moore. “We are proud to double down on Maryland’s friendship with Ontario, which has been a source of job creation and economic growth for years. And by expanding the terms of this collaborative partnership to include key sectors like life sciences and I.T., we are furthering Maryland’s leadership in industries of the future. Together, we are building greater shared prosperity.”
In addition to attracting new businesses and job creation to both Maryland and Ontario, the renewed agreement will enhance the partnership by encouraging both parties to share research and best practices across industry sectors; host exchange programs between academic institutions; and identify opportunities to meet workforce development goals.
The agreement was signed by Governor Moore and Ontario Premier Doug Ford earlier this week, and witnessed and presented today by Maryland Commerce Secretary Harry Coker, Jr. and the Ontario Minister of Red Tape Reduction Andrea Khanjin. The memorandum is for a period of three years and can be renewed by both parties.
“From meeting the needs of a digital economy to addressing climate change, Maryland and Ontario are working towards several of the same transformational economic development initiatives,” said Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Harry Coker, Jr. “Encouraging these open lines of communication will strengthen ties between both regions as we support our growing North American communities.”
“Ontario and Maryland share a strong and growing partnership built on innovation, hard work and opportunity,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford. “By rejecting tariffs and trade barriers and building Fortress Am-Can—a renewed strategic alliance between the U.S. and Canada—we can support workers and businesses in Maryland and Ontario while attracting investment and exchanging cutting-edge innovations and technologies. We’re stronger when we work together and our government is proud to work with Governor Moore and the State of Maryland to build our economies while helping to lower costs for workers and families.”
The memorandum was signed during the Department of Commerce’s three-day trade mission to Canada, which included a delegation of Maryland business representatives, Maryland Secretary of State Susan Lee, and Maryland Department of Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain. The goal of the mission is to promote trade and investment between Canada and Maryland, while strengthening the regions’ subnational ties and enhancing ongoing collaboration.
While in Ontario, the Maryland delegation will meet with IonQ executives at the company’s Canadian headquarters in Toronto. IonQ—the first quantum computing firm to be publicly traded—is investing in Maryland with a new 100,000 square foot corporate headquarters in the University of Maryland’s Discovery District. The delegation will also tour the Centre for Quantum Information and Quantum Control at the University of Toronto to identify partnerships and best practices to support startups.
Later today, Secretary Coker will host a roundtable on quantum computing at the University of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing to explore potential collaborations and investment opportunities between Canada and Maryland. The roundtable is scheduled to include quantum stakeholders from Ontario and Maryland to discuss strategies across commercial, academic, and government sectors while also showcasing quantum capabilities and expertise.
Maryland exports $2.2 billion in goods to Canada each year, with trade between the nations supporting 153,100 employees in Maryland. There are 263 Canadian-owned companies in Maryland, employing approximately 6,850 workers across the state.
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