Montréal, January 29, 2015 ‒ The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal welcomes today’s release of Smart and Digital City: 2014-2017 Montréal Strategy by the Ville de Montréal, which is intended to make the city an internationally recognized leader among smart cities.
“Montréal has a chance to catch up to and overtake major cities around the world that are highly advanced technologically and digitally speaking.” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “Making this vision a reality by 2017 is ambitious, but the city has a number of assets that will help it get there. The technologies that have emerged in recent years have transformed the relationship between citizens, businesses and governments. By leveraging our creativity and ability to innovate – strengths that we are recognized for locally and internationally – we can further stimulate the revitalization of Montréal.”
“This strategy is based on five major targets with the potential to create a unified business environment that can foster the city’s economic development,” Mr. Leblanc explained. “A number of major projects under way could ultimately be enhanced. For example, there’s the reconstruction of Sainte-Catherine St., which should make it both a landmark commercial artery and a showcase for technology.”
“We are pleased to see that urban mobility is part of the Strategy,” Michel Leblanc said. “There is a very high cost to traffic congestion, and it undermines the city’s business environment. The new tools for collecting and using data in real time will definitely increase the mobility of public transit users and improve traffic flow. This is a priority issue for our members and for the city’s economic development.”
“However, the success of this strategy – which helps strengthen one of the city’s leading sectors – depends on close, effective cooperation between civil society and institutional, economic and government partners,” Michel Leblanc said. “This is an ambitious project with a tight schedule, but the potential benefits are significant. Of course, the Ville de Montréal can count on the business community’s support and cooperation to help bring this vision to life.”
About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has over 7,000 members. Its mission is to be the voice of Montréal’s business community and to promote the city’s prosperity. It is involved in key areas of economic development, advocating a philosophy of action based on engagement, credibility, proactivity, collaboration and innovation. The Board of Trade also offers a range of specialized services to individuals and to business of all sizes to support them in their growth at home and abroad.
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Source:
Michelle LLambias Meunier
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4042
mllambias@ccmm.qc.ca
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