The West Midlands region is being showcased to investors in the US and Canada on a special transatlantic trade mission this week.
Mayor Andy Street is on the week-long trip which will begin in Birmingham’s twin city Chicago before heading to Toronto where he will lead a West Midlands showcase event featuring the arrival in the city of the Queen's Baton Relay.
The relay is one of the events leading up to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer and which will visit 72 nations and territories by the time the games commence in July.
While the Mayor is in Chicago and Toronto other members of the trade mission will be visiting New York, Washington and Montreal.
The North America trade mission has been organised as part of the Commonwealth Games Business and Tourism Programme and Mr Street will be joined by various business and tourism figures including Michelin-starred chef Glynn Purnell.
They are aiming to showcase the region to investors, business leaders and tourism chiefs looking to expand into the West Midlands or establish trade links here.
They are also hoping to attract more tourists to come to experience the region's wide range of cultural attractions as it gears up to host the Commonwealth Games.
The delegation will visit the Chicago offices of businesses operating in the West Midlands to discuss growth and investment plans including Cadbury's owner Mondelēz International, Coventry data firm Kagool and professional services company Accenture where discussions will focus on growing the firm's capabilities in the region.
The Toronto leg will also see Mr Purnell cook up dishes showcasing the region's cuisine including one of his signatures, Monkfish Masala.
Mr Street said: "A key part of my role as mayor is to bang the drum for our region and win the best possible investment for the people of the West Midlands.
"That's why we are visiting these important North American cities to offer up the perfect recipe - with the help of our hometown celebrity chef Glynn Purnell - to prospective investors, with the added excitement of the Queen's Baton Relay on display at our Toronto showcase.
"We want to attract unparalleled levels of trade, investment and tourism into the West Midlands and we will be working hard during our time in these countries to do exactly that.
"With the West Midlands hosting the Commonwealth Games this summer, there is no better time to be pitching our region to the world."
The Business and Tourism Programme is being delivered by a range of regional and national partners including the West Midlands Growth Company, Visit Britain and the Department for International Trade.
It has been designed to capitalise on the upcoming Commonwealth Games by embedding positive perceptions of the West Midlands internationally with the hope of driving long-term economic benefits across the region and fostering civic pride.
Focusing on tourism, trade and investment, the three-year programme is helping to catalyse the West Midlands' growth strategy to cement the region and wider UK as a place to visit, invest and live in.
Mr Purnell added: "I am extremely honoured to have been invited to partake in this fantastic opportunity, off the back of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Business and Tourism Programme, to truly fly the flag for our amazing city and incredible region.
"I can't wait to showcase what our thriving city already offers and also highlight the potential for more development."
