Press release
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal Welcomes
Announcement of a Major Investment that will
Bolster the Aerospace Cluster
Montreal, December 13, 2006 The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal was most pleased to hear the federal government and Pratt Whitney Canada today announce a $1.5 billion investment in R&D. The Board of Trade commends the Government of Canada for contributing $350 million to this ambitious innovation program to support the R&D efforts of the aerospace industry, a strategic, value-added cluster in metropolitan Montreal.
This cluster's productivity and competitiveness on the world stage hinges largely on its ability to develop and commercialize technology innovations. Indeed, the productive relationship between Pratt & Whitney Canada and local universities and research centres is fundamental to implementing the new research projects announced today, said Isabelle Hudon, president and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.
Moreover, in light of the close ties between the contractors and some 250 subcontractors and service suppliers in the Quebec aerospace industry, including 150 in Greater Montreal, an investment of this magnitude by a major order giver will have a ripple effect on many SMEs across the region, concluded Isabelle Hudon.
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montreal and to provide individuals, merchants and 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 the largest private organization in Quebec dedicated to economic development.
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Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Coordinator, Media relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: (514) 871-4000, ext. 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca