What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 (New International Version)
Listen to the old dog of economic development giving advice in 2006.
Mr. Manuge was instrumental in attracting many companies to Nova Scotia. John Crossley and Sons Ltd. of England was first, followed by Volvo, the first company from outside North America to establish an automobile assembly plant in Canada. While travelling between Hong Kong and the United States, Mr. Manuge managed to bring a hardboard manufacturing plant from India, Anil Canada, to Nova Scotia. It was the first time an Indian company had made an investment in Canada. But Mr. Manuge’s biggest claim to fame is the Michelin tire plant that came to Pictou County in 1969.
Imagine that. The first Indian company to invest in Canada. Michelin.
I say let’s roll the old 85-year old bones back into the plane and send him to Scandanavia.
I think he’s got a point.
While I love IT, new media, financial service jobs, etc. There will always be a need for manufacturing and – nearshore manufacturing – not everything can be manufactured 12,000 miles from its markets.
Go get ’em, tiger – but don’t forget your teeth.