Chicago (CAPITOL CITY NOW) –  Gov. JB Pritzker is traveling to Canada next week on a trade mission, where he will provide the keynote address at the 2024 U.S.-Canada Summit. The event brings together decision makers to promote and discuss joint opportunities in trade, tech innovation, energy and the environment.

“For generations, the people of Canada and the people of Illinois have been connected in more ways than one,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “As each of our economies grow and evolve, we have remained reliable partners to one another. Over the coming years, Illinois will work to build out the industries of the future – electric vehicles, quantum computing, nanotechnology – and will forge greater bonds with forward-thinking governments and businesses such as these to truly unleash our shared potential.”

The summit runs June 10 to June 13, and the governor will meet with government and business leaders in quantum, finance, electric vehicles (EVs), technology, and other growing sectors. Pritzker’s trip will include a visit to the MaRS Discovery District, the largest urban innovation hub in North America.

“As Canadian companies look at where to invest and grow, we want to show them that in Illinois they’ll find the workforce, infrastructure, ecosystem of like-minded companies, and support they need to thrive,” said Intersect Illinois Board Chairman John Atkinson. “We look forward to coming back from this trade mission with even stronger relationships that will help facilitate investment in Illinois.”

Following the summit in Toronto, the delegation will head to Montreal. Pritzker is expected to participate in a fireside chat at the Conference De’ Montreal and tour Lion Electric, whose Joliet facility is considered the largest all-electric U.S. manufacturing facility dedicated to medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicle production.

According to data from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, Illinois exports to Canada totaled $24.27 billion in 2022, a 100.2% increase since 2009. Canada is Illinois’ largest export market.