5 LAKES GLOBAL ECONOMIC FORUM

Chinese visitors tour northwest Ohio

Local and Chinese business leaders board waiting buses for a tour of the region as part of the 5 Lakes Global Economic Forum.

The third and final day of the 5 Lakes Global International Economic Forum is under way, with foreign investors taking bus tours of northwest Ohio.

The goal of the conference was to show Chinese investors the possibilities of investing in the Toledo area, and to allow them to build relationships with northwest Ohio businessmen, educational leaders, and others.

Participants could choose from among four separate bus tours.

One tour focused on transportation and logistics, with visits to the Port Authority docks, BX Solutions, and The Andersons Rail Division.

Another visited education, medical, and pharmaceutical sites, including the University of Toledo Health Science Campus (formerly the Medical College of Ohio) and Toledo Hospital.

A third focused on technology and new manufacturing, including Dana Holding Corp., Owens Corning, Plymouth Venture Partners, and Rocket Ventures. Mayor Mike Bell toured Dana's technical center with that group.

Participants on the fourth tour were scheduled to see Owens Community College, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Toledo.