CHAMBER LEADERSHIP
Naidu named to top post
Having spent the last decade trying to lure businesses to the area, Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation’s COO Rakesh Naidu will begin advocating for those businesses as the new president/CEO of the area’s chamber of commerce. Naidu will replace interim president Janice Forsyth at the helm of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 12. “What the chamber does and the role it plays in the economic development of the region really endeared me to this job,” Naidu said. “With what I’ve learned, the network I’ve accumulated, the knowledge base and the partnerships that’s been created, I thought I could transfer that for this job and really make it work for the region.
“It’s a good fit.” Forsyth, who was filling in for former president Matt Marchand after he stepped down to run for Windsor mayor, feels Naidu brings the perfect skill set for the job. “He’s an excellent choice,” Forsyth said. “He’s got all the elements that will help create future success for the chamber.
“He’s very familiar with the business community, and he’s used to advocating at the provincial and national government levels.” Naidu’s appointment was also well received by the local labour community.
Retired Unifor national president Ken Lewenza Sr. said Naidu is well known to labour officials through his work with WEEDC. “The labour movement has had a great relationship with Rakesh through partnering with WEEDC,” Lewenza said. “He’s always been open and transparent.
“I see the Windsor chamber as an important partner in its role and I think we’ll continue to have a good relationship as we’ve done in the past.”
Lewenza acknowledged the chamber’s position on the minimum-wage and labour-law changes differ with labour’s, but that won’t derail the relationship.
“We have more in common than we have differences,” Lewenza said.
Naidu said the challenges presented by the USMCA and American tariffs on steel/aluminum are issues at the top of his list, along with economic diversification and tending to the smaller interests of the chamber’s membership. He also wants to increase the chamber’s membership and provide more value to being a member. “We’ll be very vocal and visible,” Naidu said. “We’ll make sure our
The labour movement has had a great relationship with Rakesh. He’s always been open and transparent.
voices are heard and our concerns are addressed.
“I’ve got a good network with the provincial and federal government and key stakeholders. We’ll be leveraging that.”
Naidu said now, with manufacturing performing solidly, is also the time to work at broadening the region’s economic footprint. “The main sector, manufacturing, is still growing and very solid,” Naidu said.
“We need to leverage other sectors of business, like agriculture and food processing. We’re a fantastic destination for logistics, warehousing and the transportation industry.
“We’ll have more job growth because of a major construction project in the new bridge. “Overall, the economy is doing well.”
With federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau having given an economic update Wednesday and the provincial labour laws in flux, Naidu said he’ll be watching what the senior levels of government are doing very carefully.
“For a long time, we had an advantage on combined corporate taxes in Ontario,” Naidu said. “With the changes in corporate tax in the U.S. that advantage has been reduced.
“The labour law, what we can do to support small businesses, we’ll support that.
“Having said that, it’s important to offer a fair wage to everyone. It has to be a fair balance, especially it has to be dealt with in a way that small business has time to adapt to such a change.”