ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Saeed says his office works with local companies to create strategic alliances wherever possible. The focus is on selling Canada first, then Ontario and the GTA. “In our region we have the second biggest food cluster after California and the second largest high tech sector after Silicon Valley,” he said. “Our bus rapid transit (BRT) system Züm, is based on modern, European design and connects the entire city.” Saeed says 90 per cent of the city’s 9,000 busi- nesses are small to medium enterprises, but many also represent “the only of its kind” internationally. “We have Gray Tools, a 100-year old company still making hand- made tools with contracts to supply them around the world. We are the home of Industrial Thermo Polymers, inventors of the pool noodle, and of MacDonald Det- 52 – Fall 2013 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report twiler and Associates (MDA), celebrating the 30 year anniversary of building and testing the Canadarm.” He says the city is also home to Duropar Technolo- gies Inc., the first company in the world to create rail- way ties made from recycled materials, which last three times longer than those constructed with wood. “The more we know about our businesses the better we do our job,” Saeed said, so the city’s economic de- velopment office has surveyed local companies. “Un- derstanding why they are here and what makes them a success is critical. We recognize our main strength is people. They bring character, skill and knowledge and are our greatest asset.” For more information, visit brampton.ca/b-more.