The Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development will be in Windsor on Monday to announce support for the local automotive sector.
Navdeep Bains is the minister responsible for FedDev Ontario, a federal institution that delivers programs and services to support innovation and economic growth. The only detail from a federal notice is that Minister Bains will be in Windsor to make an important announcement for the automotive sector. BlackburnNews.com has confirmed the minister has been announcing funding for several industries across the province this week.
Minister Bains will make the announcement at APAG Elektronik Corp. on Monday at 11:30 a.m.
APAG Elektronik Corp. (APAG) from Switzerland wants to set up its North American headquarters near the Windsor Airport. A City of Windsor report in October said the move will create 148 new production and research and development jobs over the next five years. The 64-year-old company said it will create a new skilled workforce in Windsor that includes software and hardware engineers, specifically in the computer systems design and related services sector.
APAG has leased a 32,000 square foot industrial building at 3505 Rhodes Dr., the former FedEx Shipping Centre. The Swiss company said it wants to invest $3.2 million to renovate the interior and exterior of the building and an additional $8 million in equipment within the first three years of operation.
APAG officials have told the city that, so far, they have secured contracts to design and manufacture automotive lighting and electronics at the proposed Windsor plant for Chrysler and Cadillac.
APAG has several locations in Europe, India and China but this will only be the second site in North America.
Current clients include Audi, Porsche, Jaguar, BMW, Rolls Royce, Land Rover and Ford.