Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti Visits Arche Capital to Discuss Plans for an International Technology Innovation Park

[October 4, 2016 | Markham, Canada] 

On October 4, 2016, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti led a delegation to visit the headquarters of Arche Capital, where he met with senior partners James Jiang and legal scholar Dr. Douglas Lash. The discussion centered on the proposal to establish an “International Technology Innovation Park” in Markham, aiming to enhance the city’s status as Canada’s high-tech hub and attract global technology companies and investment. 

Strengthening Innovation and Technology Leadership

During the meeting, Mayor Scarpitti emphasized that Markham is widely recognized as “Canada’s high-tech capital”, home to major global players such as IBM. He highlighted how the city’s diverse cultural environment and top-tier educational resources provide unique advantages for fostering innovation. He outlined plans for the proposed technology park, which would integrate  government policy support, corporate R&D capabilities, and international investment, with a focus on cutting-edge fields such as  artificial intelligence and clean energy. 

Representatives from Arche Capital pointed out that Markham’s strong foundation in high-tech industries, combined with its vibrant Chinese-Canadian community —which makes up 46.5% of the city’s population—presents significant investment opportunities. They expressed their commitment to leveraging cross-border collaboration platforms to facilitate deeper engagement between Asia-Pacific and North American technology enterprises. 

Boosting Economic Growth and Cross-Border Collaboration 

Located in the Greater Toronto Area, Markham was officially designated as a city in 2012 and has since grown into one of Canada’s most diverse and economically dynamic municipalities. With a population of 338,000 as of 2021, it is home to a thriving tech industry, a well-developed transportation network, and a high quality of life. 

Industry analysts suggest that if the International Technology Innovation Park is successfully established, it could further solidify Markham’s strategic position in North America’s innovation landscape, while also injecting new momentum into Canada-Malaysia technology partnerships. The discussions held during this visit laid the groundwork for potential cross-border business collaboration and investment initiatives.