Montréal, May 13, 2014 ‒ The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal’s team of international trade experts, the World Trade Centre Montréal, has just concluded a major trade mission to multilateral development banks in Washington. The delegation, made up of 34 representatives of businesses and schools from Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, met with specialists and decision makers from the World Bank Group and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). This trade mission was organized in cooperation with Cégep International and Nova Scotia Business Inc., with the support of the Embassy of Canada in Washington.
“Businesses, universities and colleges understand the importance of internationalizing their activities,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “Emerging and developing countries offer countless business opportunities and partnerships. The multilateral banks, which finance development projects in these countries, are strategic gateways to these markets. The goal of the trade mission to Washington was to better understand how these institutions work to create a positioning and establish relations with their stakeholders in the field. We achieved that goal and then some.”
“This trade mission was the result of a long-term effort,” Mr. Leblanc said. “For over 15 years, the WTC Montréal has been organizing trade missions to Washington and offering Quebec companies the chance to meet specialists at the World Bank and IDB head offices. We facilitated the efforts of around a dozen businesses and institutions with these banks, helping them promote their products and services for projects in developing countries.”
“Our researchers have cutting-edge expertise relevant to a range of problems facing developing countries,” said Svava Bergmann, Partnerships and International Development Advisor at UQAM. “During this trade mission, I found out about a number of projects we could contribute to. I had the chance to ask specialists questions, present our experience and expertise and introduce UQAM to people who can expedite our participation in World Bank and IDB projects. I met with managers from the future Centers of Excellence program in Africa, sponsored by the World Bank, and a specialist in managing natural disasters at the IDB. These contacts will be very useful to me in future efforts.”
“As liaisons with the private sector of the World Bank, we noted a marked interest among businesses and institutions in establishing contacts with multilateral banks,” Mr. Leblanc said. “To respond to the demand, the WTC Montréal team will offer new activities ‒ trade missions, hosting delegations of industry experts and training ‒ that address relations with these institutions that have a major impact in developing countries.”
About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
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:
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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