Adam Radwanski: Mark Carney’s foreign investment summit is like speed dating. The risks are real, but the opportunities could change Canada - Toronto Star

The Toronto summit kicks off Monday with at least 167 project opportunities and a $1-trillion capital goal.

Prime Minister Mark Carney makes an announcement in Ottawa in this file photo.

Adam Radwanski is a business columnist for the Star, focused on the intersection of the economy, politics and public policy. Reach him via email: aradwanski@thestar.ca

Think of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s foreign investment summit, this coming Monday and Tuesday, as a speed-dating session.

Sure, there will be speeches — most notably by Carney himself, as well as by Stephen Harper — at the gathering of global CEOs at Toronto’s Four Seasons Hotel. Plus panels, breakout sessions, and other stuff you’d typically associate with a conference.

There will also probably be a few announcements of commitments by overseas or American attendees to invest now in Canadian projects, lined up in advance to show early momentum toward Carney’s goal of attracting $1-trillion in capital over the next five years.

What this event is really about, though, is trying to introduce visiting executives to domestic proponents of energy, mining, infrastructure and manufacturing opportunities — not to strike immediate deals, but to begin what Ottawa hopes will be fruitful long-term relationships.

Foreign investment has to grow Canada’s economy, not merely sustain it.