PCCT joins sponsors of business seminars to help small business

PCCT joins sponsors of business seminars to help small business

TORONTO–A Diversity Business Forum will be featured in the Small Business Conference, organized by Enterprise Toronto on Sept. 22, 2004 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce – Toronto (PCCT) has teamed up with the Chinese Canadian Business Associations and the South Asian Business Associations to sponsor a series of seminars to help new entrepreneurs. The Filipino business and professional community will have an opportunity to get answers to their questions on how to start up businesses and ensure survival in the Canadian business community.

“This is a great opportunity for our Filipino community to expand its wings in business and profit from the growing diversity in Canada by seizing the various assistance offered by both government and private sectors to budding entrepreneurs”, says Mr. Rafael Nebres, President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Toronto.

Multiculturalism means business. The growth of multicultural communities in Canada is shaping a new economy, one that demands inclusion of diversity in business. Canada’s proportion of Asian immigrants to total immigrants increased to over 50% between 1990 and 2000 and in the United States, recent census revealed that Asian and Hispanic populations grew nearly four times as fast as the overall population from 2000 to 2003. In both the United States and Canada, Asians are the fastest growing segment among the visible minority group. This group of new immigrants is a source of consumer and entrepreneurship power. It was estimated that in 2002, the combined buying power of multicultural groups in America reached $1.3 trillion. Diversity is upon us, in food, fashion, healthcare, technology, entertainment and in business. It is creeping into our lifestyles and is molding a new Canada.

The Diversity Business Forum will focus on multicultural marketing and entrepreneurship. The one day event will feature seminars and workshops that will help new immigrant entrepreneurs start up businesses and learn from the experienced business immigrant communities. Survival strategies, best practices and success stories will be shared to spark inspiration to the multicultural entrepreneurs.
The forum will also focus on finding new growth and profit opportunities from the multicultural market and unique ways to reach this diverse community. Many companies are recognizing the business gains from this new customer base but often face challenges in reaching and knowing this diverse group. This seminar will offer various ways to market to the new multicultural Canada.

The Business WorkShop, a marketing consulting company that helps companies market to the multicultural community will provide a seminar on multicultural marketing and will share a report on survival strategies and best practices for small businesses owned by entrepreneurs.

The Diversity Business Forum is sponsored by the Chinese Cultural Centre of the Greater Toronto, Chinese Canadian Business Associations, Philippine Chamber of Commerce – Toronto and the South Asian Business Associations.

Contact information: Mr. Rafael Nebres, Philippine Chamber of Commerce – Toronto president at (416) 281-1234 and Grace Soyao, The Business WorkShop at (905) 469-2565.

(PRESS RELEASE)