Montreal, November 12, 2013 – The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal and its team of international trade experts, the World Trade Centre Montréal, are beginning a two-day trade mission to Calgary, in cooperation with the Alberta Enterprise Group. More than 30 participants from Quebec businesses will have the chance to meet potential business partners and attend a range of activities to explore the many opportunities Alberta has to offer. The President and CEO of the Board of Trade, Michel Leblanc, is leading this mission and speaking at noon today at the Shared Prosperity Luncheon, accompanied by Steve Williams, President and CEO of Suncor Energy.
“Alberta and Calgary are very promising markets for our businesses,” Mr. Leblanc said. “The oil and gas industries have seen major growth in recent years, and Quebec expertise would benefit them, particularly in green technology. In this sector alone, Alberta businesses plan to invest over $6 billion in the next five years. Conversely, supplying Quebec with Alberta oil is a unique opportunity to consolidate our petrochemical sector.”
“As for Alberta’s construction and engineering sectors, they are not taking an economic backseat, with projects worth close to $200 billion currently under way,” Mr. Leblanc said. “There are many business opportunities for Montréal companies to take advantage of. The partnerships that will be formed with Alberta companies aren’t one-way streets. Alberta can also benefit from the many infrastructure investment projects in Greater Montréal.”
“In addition to business partnerships between companies, Calgary and Montréal can collaborate to improve access to foreign markets, in particular by having more direct flights to emerging markets,” Mr. Leblanc said. “Calgary is a gateway to Asia. And Montréal will become a strategic logistics centre for Europe under the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement.”
“If we want these local and international partnership efforts to succeed, we have to promote a functional union that respects provincial areas of expertise,” Mr. Leblanc said. “To this end, we can count on Alberta as an ally, particularly with respect to securities regulation. Other provinces should draw inspiration from this vision of federation, which promotes a stable, predictable and competitive business environment where companies are in a better position to build rewarding partnerships.”
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.
About the World Trade Centre Montréal
With the help of its World Trade Montréal experts, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal offers international trade services to the extended business community, with the support of Canada Economic Development.
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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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