Press Release
Export Québec: an improved response, adapted to the needs of our companies seeking to
develop their export markets
Montréal, November 8, 2011 – The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal reacted very positively to this morning’s launch of Export Québec by Québec Premier, Mr. Jean Charest, and Québec Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, Mr. Sam Hamad. Export Québec, an initiative with a budget of $60M spread over the next three years, will improve public assistance already offered to our companies so that they may increase their international market share, a mission that the Board of Trade and its team of international trade experts, the World Trade Centre Montréal, have supported for several years now.
“Export Québec meets the needs our members often express by making a concrete contribution to improving the offer of public assistance for their international business development, and doing so on several fronts: the budget allotted to the parts dedicated to supporting exporters and the organizations that back them will be considerably increased; the total number of companies that will benefit has been revised upward; and the amount of assistance is better adapted to the size of the recipient companies. Our business clientele, 90% of which is made up of SMEs, will therefore welcome this news,” stated Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.
“Two innovative elements are of particular interest. First, the unit is taking part in the establishment of an international network of incubators that will facilitate our businesses’ access to foreign markets by providing a ‘pied-à-terre’ where representative or sales offices can be opened. Second, the initiative provides for regular consultation with the stakeholders, including Québec companies experienced on foreign markets. This should foster a better match between the measures of support being offered and the real needs of the public sector,” emphasized Michel Leblanc.
“The Board of Trade and its team of international trade experts are offering their full support to the MDEIE in order to make Export Québec a success. Already, through training and networking activities, such as trade missions and foreign buyers’ meetings, we do everything possible to ensure that the province’s and the city’s businesses are well equipped to master the various aspects of international trade and gain easier access to new foreign business partners, notably in emerging nations. To that end, since the summer of 2009, the World Trade Centre’s activities have drawn close to 4,000 participants, including 70 companies we have guided over the course of four trade missions to China, India, and the Gulf nations. Today’s announcement improves resources and simplifies the processes for our members, which delights us,” added Michel Leblanc.
“The well-being of Québec’s economy and that of the city depends heavily on our companies’ ability to successfully penetrate foreign markets. The importance of this is fully grasped when noting that, by including exports to other provinces, the total value of Québec’s exports corresponds—year in, year out—to about half of its GDP. We therefore welcome this new initiative from the MDEIE, which will serve to strengthen the support available to our exporters, and to acknowledge the new reality brought on by a near-par dollar and the global economic downturn,” concluded Michel Leblanc.
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is made up of some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.
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Source:
Geneviève Marsan
Interim Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Phone: 514 871-4000, extension 4015
gmarsan@ccmm.qc.ca