Howard County's own Executive Calvin Ball is headed to Toronto for a notable Tech Week 2025 conference, to discuss strengthening economic relations between Maryland and Ontario. Following an official announcement, Ball's week-long visit will feature talks in Niagara Falls, Toronto, and Ottawa to deepen ties in sectors such as IT, cybersecurity, and AgTech.
The expedition aims to attract investments and foster international collaborations, featuring representatives from the Howard County Economic Development Authority, as well as parties from Howard County Government, Howard Community College, and other local business leaders. Niagara will host the delegation for discussions on food safety and clean technologies. Ottawa will concentrate on cybersecurity collaborations, whereas in Toronto, the Tech Week event will serve as a platform for Ball's keynote on the relevance of local partnerships in expanding the US tech industry.
Notably, Ball's Toronto speech, "Why Local Partnerships Matter- A Gateway to the U.S. Capital Region’s Tech Ecosystem,” will outline the importance of strategic alliances. Additionally, the team seeks a meaningful Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or agreement that could potentially be a game-changer for the Howard County economic landscape. Collaboration is key, as Howard County is building upon a well-established trade and investment Memorandum of Understanding with Ontario to enhance the cross-border synergy.
According to a statement obtained from Howard County's official news release, local business magnates accompanying the delegation include Foodco USA's CEO, Seema Sigh; Cyberlinx Solutions' CEO, James Jean-Baptiste; and Sentinel Forge Technologies' CEO, Colin Hamill. All parties have vested interests in this diplomatic endeavor, which may lead to new investments and opportunities for the country's commercial landscape.
