International investors tour Toledo businesses - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Foreign investors toured a number of companies around the region on Wednesday. They're here for the 5 Lakes Global Economic Forum which is designed to attract foreign investment to the region.

The investors went on bus tours that focused on specific segments of the economy like transportation and logistics as well as medical and pharmaceutical. One of the bus tours focused on technology and new manufacturing with a stop at several local businesses including Owens Corning. The Toledo based company has operations in 28 different countries including China. Don Rettig is the Director of Community Relations at Owens Corning,"We are glad to have this chance to highlight our presence in China and the other countries and show why Northwest Ohio is important to us. We are also talking about all the amenities we have in this region as well as spotlighting why we continue to call Northwest Ohio home."

It's not just foreign investors who made the trip to Toledo, a number of foreign correspondents are also here. Yun Wu is a Senior Correspondent for the People's Daily of China,"There's much more that needs to be done and I hope it will, but events like this are a good thing for both China and the United States."

Before the forum is even over, organizers are declaring it a huge success. Paul Zito is the  Vice President of International Development at the Regional Growth Partnership,"Everyone has stopped me and said this event is amazing. The relationships that will come out of it and the potential deals have far surpassed our expectations."

Zito says a good way to gauge the success is the fact that a number of the investors have changed their travel plans. Instead of leaving tonight they're staying a few extra days,"It's very good because this has been international development en masse whereas now they can have more personal interaction with individual people and companies."

The tours today also made stops at places like The University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, the Port Authority Docks, The Andersons rail division and Dana.

The investors who are extending their trips will be doing things like meeting with potential business partners or customers and suppliers as well as looking at real estate. The forum was sponsored by 5 Lakes Global and The Regional Growth Partnership in conjunction with The University of Toledo.