More than 100 foreign investors in Toledo - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Hundreds of investors are in Toledo from all over the world. They are here for the 5 Lakes Global Economic Forum which is designed to attract new business to the region. More than 150 foreign investors are here. Most of them are from China, but there are also investors from the United Arab Emirates and Europe. The goal is to sell them all on Northwest Ohio.

The investors started arriving at the Park Inn on Monday. About 150 people are expected from overseas. There are more than 40 translators who will be working with those investors during their stay in Toledo.

Larry Burns from The University of Toledo traveled to China earlier this year and he says the face to face meetings at the forum should make a difference, "Most Chinese business relationships are built on interpersonal relationships, that only work when you meet in person."

A number of companies around the region both big and small are taking part in the forum. Joel Jerger is a Senior Vice President and Commercial Region Manager at Huntington Bank,"We're hopeful that people who attend the forum will see the advantages our community has to offer. First and foremost we are hoping that leads to economic growth and success for individuals and we hope we can be a continued partner in that."

Because our world is now truly a global marketplace. Burns says the 5 Lakes Global Forum becomes even more important, "If we don't embrace a global marketplace, we won't be relevant very long. Most business people know that and thanks to this forum hopefully they will become more comfortable with it."

While organizers expect the forum to create a number of business opportunities Jerger says it will likely take more than a year to see the results, "I think it is probably unrealistic to think that we will see significant results from this in the next few days, weeks or even months. However, in the long term, if it increases our exposure and the overall awareness of the region and underlying assets, all that is critical to our economic success."

Burns expects this forum to provide a number of investment opportunities for local businesses and institutions like The University of Toledo, "A lot of times trips or events have a lot of great discussions, but nothing comes of it. I don't think that will be the case with this I think we are off to something good."

In addition to the foreign investors, a number of foreign journalists will be here as well . The forum is sponsored by 5 Lakes Global and the Regional Growth Partnership in conjunction with The University of Toledo. Dozens of other local companies are also involved. The forum runs through Wednesday and it features not only presentations but bus tours to businesses and institutions around the region.